OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect on adhesion and motion capbilities of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), by detecting the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), E-cadherin (E-cad) and S100A4 and the clinical significance in ACC tissues and analyzing the relationships between them with perineural invasion (PNI).

METHODSThe expression of NGF, E-cad and S100A4 in ACC was detected with the way of immunohistochemistry SP, and then analyzing the expression level of them in different pathological types and histological regions in statistical ways on the basis of their relation with clinical and pathological parameters.

RESULTSThe expression of NGF and S100A4 in PNI group [88% (23/26) and 77% (20/26)], was higher than that in NPNI group (8/16 and 7/16, P < 0.05), and a positive correlation between them was identified in PNI group (r = 0.316, P < 0.05). However the E-cad expression was lower in PNI group [31% (8/26), P < 0.05]. On the other hand it suggested a negative correlation with NGF (r = 0.385, P < 0.05) as well as that with S100A4 (r = -0.612, P = 0.000). The expression level of NGF in fasciculus [83% (25/30)] has significant deviation compared with it in distant tumor tissues [47% (14/30), P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONSIn the PNI process of ACC, NGF plays important parts but not the only factor. It can increase the expression and activity of S100A4 but decrease E-cad expression through binding with its receptor. Thus, adhesion abilities of tumor cells was weakened and motional abilities was strengthen.