Immunolocalisation of cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein in pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid salivary gland

Pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid salivary glands often contains chondroid elements and may exhibit cartilaginous and osseous differentiation, although the latter is extremely rare. Twenty-nine pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) of the parotid gland were examined immunohistochemically for the distribution of cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein (CD-RAP), a recently described marker of chondrocytes, which may be important in the morphogenesis and development of the salivary gland. In the normal parotid gland, the ductal cells expressed CD-RAP, but not the myoepithelial cells. In the pleomorphic salivary adenomas, the duct-like cells, but not the myoepithelial cells, expressed CD-RAP. Since many authorities consider myoepithelial cells to be the source of the chondroid matrix, it is surprising that these cells do not express the chondrocytic marker, CD-RAP. Putative neoplastic myoepithelium in the pleomorphic adenoma and some cells in the myxochondroid areas expressed S-100 and calponin.