BACKGROUND: Cell growth factors play important roles in the biological behavior of salivary gland tumors. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cell growth factor that is attracting a great deal of attention as a multifunctional cytokine that not only induces hepatocyte growth but also displays a wide variety of functions in various epithelial and endothelial cells.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty archival paraffin-embedded specimens of cases diagnosed as normal and benign salivary gland tumors were collected (5 healthy control, 10 pleomorphic adenomas, 10 Warthin's tumors and 5 myoepitheliomas). They were prepared for routine H& E and immunohistochemical staining with HGF.
RESULTS: All cases revealed different HGF positive reactions with the highest optical density of HGF expression for normal salivary glands and Warthin's tumor in the benign tumors group.
CONCLUSION: We concluded that the presence of HGF in normal salivary tissue emphasizes the role of this factor in maintaining the physiologic functions in salivary glands. Furthermore, the most intense expression of HGF in the luminal cells of the ductal epithelium of normal salivary tissue suggested that HGF plays a role in salivary gland development.