Multiple unrelated translocations in a metastatic epimyoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland

We report the cytogenetic, fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and DNA flow cytometric analysis of a rare metastatic epimyoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland to the lung with a clinical course of 29 years. DNA content and FISH analyses of tumor and short-term culture cells showed diploid DNA content and lack of numerical chromosomal abnormalities. Immunohistochemical analysis of the short-term culture cells showed predominantly keratin positive and sparse desmin staining supporting on epithelial rather than myoepithelial origin. Cytogenetic analysis showed 46,XY karyotype with clonal translocations of t(3;22)(q13,2;q13.1], t(1;7)(q21;q22), t(8;9)(p10,7310), and t(5;6) (q35;q21). Our findings indicate that these alterations developed in a diploid stemline during tumor progression and in the epithelial component of this tumor.