To evaluate the diagnostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in salivary gland tumors, thirty-five patients (47 lesions) who underwent MR examinations and were histopathologically diagnosed with salivary gland tumors in Okayama University Hospital, between April 1998 and March 2005, were entered in the present study. The parameters included CI(max300) or CI(max600), which was the contrast index (CI) at maximal contrast enhancement upon 300 s or 600 s, and Tmax, which was the time that corresponded to the CI(max300). Washout ratio (WR(300) or WR(600)) was defined as follows: CI(max300)-CI(300s)/CI(max300) or CI(max600)-CI(600s)/CI(max600)x100 (%), where CI(300) or CI(600) was the CI at 300s or 600s after contrast medium administration. We obtained the following results from the analysis of DCE-MRI parameters; (a) The salivary gland tumors were categorized into three CI curve types according to Tmax and WR300; Pleomorphic adenoma; Tmax > 210 s and WR300 < 10%, Warthin tumor; Tmax < 60 s and WR300 > 40%, and malignant tumor; 60s < Tmax < 210 s and 10% < WR300 < 30%; (b) On the basis of the relationship between Tmax and CImax or WR, all pleomorphic adenomas were successfully differentiated from Warthin tumor lesions. Of the 20 pleomorphic adenomas, 18 (90.0%) were successfully differentiated from malignant tumors. All Warthin tumor lesions were successfully differentiated from pleomorphic adenomas and malignant tumors. Of 12 the malignant tumors, 11 (91.7%) were successfully differentiated from pleomorphic adenomas. All malignant tumors were successfully differentiated from Warthin tumors. Thus, DCE-MRI parameters are useful in diagnosing salivary gland tumors on the basis of the combined assessment of Tmax and CImax or WR.

Summary Maspin, which belongs to the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) superfamily, has been proposed as a potent tumor suppressor that inhibits cell motility, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. In the present study, we examined the effects of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC), a demethylating agent, and FR901228, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, on maspin expression in oral cancer cell lines. The expression levels of maspin mRNA were divided into two groups, which was the maspin low-expressed and high-expressed cell lines in the 12 oral cancer cell lines. The maspin promoter contained only a few methylated CpG sites in the maspin low-expressed cell lines. Moreover, the methylation status was not altered after 5Aza-dC treatment. However, the transcription of the maspin gene was clearly increased following 5Aza-dC treatment in a number of oral cancer cell lines. These results imply that an action of 5Aza-dC is separate from induction of promoter demethylation. Treatment with FR901228 resulted in a time-dependent stimulation of the re-expression of maspin mRNA as early as 4 hours after treatment in the maspin downregulated cells. The re-expression of the maspin gene may contribute to the recuperation of biological functions linked to FR901228 such as an inhibitory effect on tumor angiogenesis and cell invasion. These results indicate that maspin and its target genes may be excellent leads for future studies on the potential benefits of FR901228, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, in cancer therapy.

We were able to detect incidental lesions at a rate of 6.05% (66 of 1092 patients) and at a relatively early age (mean 6.8 years) in the present study. Early treatment of these lesions could avoid maxillofacial deformity and other complications.

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