Salivary Duct Carcinoma with Rhabdoid Features of the Parotid Gland with No E-Cadherin Expression: A Report with Anti-HER2 Therapy and Review of the Literature

Richa Jain; E Ritter Sansoni; Jacqueline Angel; John P Gleysteen; D Neil Hayes; Adepitan A Owosho

doi:10.3390/dj11100229

Salivary Duct Carcinoma with Rhabdoid Features of the Parotid Gland with No E-Cadherin Expression: A Report with Anti-HER2 Therapy and Review of the Literature

Dent J (Basel). 2023 Sep 25;11(10):229. doi: 10.3390/dj11100229.

Authors

Richa Jain¹, E Ritter Sansoni², Jacqueline Angel³, John P Gleysteen², D Neil Hayes⁴, Adepitan A Owosho^{2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis, TN 38104, USA.
² Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA.
³ Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA.
⁴ Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA.
⁵ Department of Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA.

Abstract

Salivary duct carcinoma with rhabdoid features (SDC-RF) is a rare form of salivary gland neoplasm that was recently described. We report a case of SDC-RF of the parotid gland with loss of E-cadherin and decreased β-catenin expression in a 73-year-old male who presented with right facial/neck swelling and intermittent pain. Morphologically, the tumor presented with a discohesive infiltrate of isolated and cords of pleomorphic round cells containing moderate amount of eosinophilic to fine-vacuolated cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei infiltrating through fibroadipose tissue and salivary parenchyma. Immunophenotypically, the tumor was positive for Cytokeratins Oscar and 7, GATA3, GCDFP, HER2, and an androgen receptor but negative for CK20, S100, p40, Melan A, CDX2, TTF1, ER, SATB2, DOG1, synaptophysin, and chromogranin. Due to its diffuse infiltrating pattern, involvement of the parapharyngeal space, supraclavicular fat pad, dermis, and skin without a defined surgical target, the tumor was deemed unresectable. Anti-HER2 therapy (Herceptin and Pertuzumab) was utilized. At the last follow-up, the patient is alive, with complete locoregional control and brain metastases. An electronic search was performed in the following registries for papers published up to June 2023: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. For the database searches, the keywords searched were "salivary gland", "salivary duct carcinoma", and "salivary duct carcinoma with rhabdoid features". Our review of the literature identified 30 cases of SDC-RF that reveal there is a predilection for males (83%), parotid gland (72%), and patients older than the 6th decade of life (83%). Immunophenotypically, all SDC-RF cases except one were positive for AR and GCDFP (97%), 81% were positive for HER2, and loss or decreased expression of E-cadherin in 93% of cases. In conclusion, we described a rare case of SDF-RF of the parotid gland with no E-cadherin expression, decreased β-catenin expression, and its immunophenotypic profile.

Keywords: E-cadherin loss; immunohistochemistry; salivary duct carcinoma; salivary gland neoplasms.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.