# Assessment of Protein Immunoexpression Associated with Tumor Proliferation and Invasion in Histological Subtypes of Unicystic and Conventional Ameloblastoma

## TL;DR

This study examines protein expression in different types of ameloblastoma tumors to understand their invasive potential.

## Contribution

The study identifies higher invadopodia-related protein expression in mural unicystic ameloblastomas compared to other subtypes.

## Key findings

- Mural unicystic ameloblastomas showed higher MT1-MMP, cortactin, Tks-4, and Tks-5 expression than luminal and intra-luminal types.
- Conventional ameloblastomas exhibited lower MT1-MMP, cortactin, and Tks-5 expression compared to mural unicystic ameloblastomas.
- Neoplastic cells in the cystic capsule of mural unicystic ameloblastomas showed higher protein expression, suggesting proximity to bone influences aggressiveness.

## Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify whether the expression of proteins related to the formation of invadopodia, MT1-MMP, cortactin, Tks-4 and Tks-5 is associated with the degree of tumor invasiveness of different types of unicystic ameloblastomas. An immunohistochemical study was performed on 29 unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) samples, 9 conventional ameloblastoma (CAM) samples and 9 dental follicle (DF) samples. The potential for tumor invasiveness was assessed based on the immunoexpression of the following invadopodia-forming proteins: MT1-MMP, cortactin, Tks-4 and Tks5. Mural unicystic ameloblastoma (MUA) showed higher MT1-MMP, cortactin, Tks-4, and Tks-5 immunoexpression than luminal and intra-luminal types. Conventional ameloblastoma exhibited lower MT1-MMP, cortactin, and Tks-5 expression compared to MUA. MUA’s cystic capsule neoplastic cells had significantly higher MT1-MMP, cortactin, Tks-4, and Tks-5 expression than lumen cells. Dental follicles showed minimal expression. Neoplastic cells in the cystic capsule of mural unicystic ameloblastomas showed higher invadopodia-related protein expression than lumen and luminal/intraluminal cells, suggesting that proximity to the bone region influences the aggressive behavior of mural unicystic ameloblastomas more compared to other subtypes.