# OCT4 and MENA immunoprofiling in salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma

## TL;DR

This study examines the expression of OCT4 and MENA proteins in salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma to understand their roles and potential as biomarkers.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the immunoprofiling and potential prognostic roles of OCT4 and MENA in salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

## Key findings

- OCT4 showed cytoplasmic expression in intermediate and epidermoid cells, with strong expression in low-grade tumors.
- MENA expression correlated significantly with age, tumor size, clinical stage, and histological grading.
- MENA may serve as a biomarker for predicting aggressive behavior in MEC.

## Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) emblematizes the predominant malignant salivary gland neoplasm, characterized by its heterogeneous morphological features and diverse clinical representations. The expression patterns and prognostic significance of Octamer transcription factor 4 (OCT4) and Mammalian-enabled (MENA) protein in MEC perdure are incompletely described.

Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 46 archival MEC specimens and 5 normal salivary-gland controls. OCT4 and MENA staining were assessed histomorphometrically and correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Statistical analysis comprised Monte Carlo and Spearman’s correlation tests.

OCT4 revealed selective cytoplasmic immunoreactivity in intermediate and epidermoid cells, without nuclear positivity. Strong OCT4 expression predominated in low-grade (66.7%), while high-grade MEC exhibited variable immunoreactivity, with 53% showing weak expression. No significant correlation was found between OCT4 expression and clinical or pathological data. MENA showed cytoplasmic and membranous immunolocalization, with expression patterns correlated significantly with age (p = 0.015), tumor size (p = 0.012), clinical stage (p = 0.004), and histological grading (p = 0.001). Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a weak, non-significant association between OCT4 and MENA expression (r = 0.05, p = 0.744).

The differential expression patterns of OCT4 and MENA in MEC prognosticate distinct regulatory mechanisms. While OCT4 cytoplasmic expression may presage early involvement in carcinogenesis, MENA cellular expression portends potentially independent molecular pathways, possibly encompassing subnetworks in the Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β signaling cascades. MENA may serve as a biomarker for predicting the aggressive behavior of MEC.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13000-025-01665-8.