PURPOSE: Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common tumour of the lacrimal gland, but very little is known about its biology. It has a tendency to recur and an ability to transform into the high-grade malignancy carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (ca-ex-PA), which is also largely unexplored. In this study, we examine the expression of the interleukin-6/Janus kinase/STAT3 (IL-6/JAK/STAT3) pathway components in PA and ca-ex-PA.

METHODS: Sixteen PAs and two ca-ex-PAs were examined with immunohistochemistry. Seven PAs were subjected to microdissection and subsequent qPCR.

RESULTS: The IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway was overexpressed in PA compared to normal lacrimal gland. Overexpression of phosphorylated JAK1 (p-JAK1) and cyclin D1 was significantly overexpressed in ductal cells compared with myoepithelial cells in PA. A shift from p-JAK1 to p-JAK2 and p-Tyk2 overexpression was seen between PA and ca-ex-PA, combined with a high p-STAT3 expression in the latter.

CONCLUSION: The IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway is overexpressed in PA, and this overexpression was even more pronounced in ca-ex-PA, with a shift in the JAKs mediating STAT3 phosphorylation. Future studies are needed to clarify whether PA and ca-ex-PA could be treated with targeted therapy directed against components of the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway.