Expression of nerve growth factor in adenoid cystic carcinoma

Objective:To study the expression of nerve growth factor(NGF) in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) cells in vitro and vivo so as to understand the relationship between NGF and perineural invasion in ACC cell. Methods: Western blot was performed to detect the expression of NGF in the proliferative phase of ACC cells in vitro, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of NGF in ACC cells and infraorbital nerves in a 14-d nude mouse model. Densities of NGF positive cells in ACC tissue adjacent to nerves were compared with those far from the nerves. NGF immunoreactive intensities in nerves with tumor invasion were compared with those without tumor invasion. Results: NGF was expressed in ACC cells in vitro and vivo. Densities of NGF positive ACC cells adjacent to nerves (30.67±5.91) were significantly higher than those far from the nerves (9.33±2.81) in the animal model (P0.01). There was no significant difference in NGF immunoreactive intensity between the nerves with tumor invasion (46.79±2.91) and those without tumor invasion (47.01±2.56,P=0.299). Conclusion: NGF participates in the proliferation of ACC cells. Enhanced expression of NGF closely correlates with perineural invasion in ACC cells.