Expression of phosphorylated Akt/mTOR and clinical significance in human ameloblastoma.

This study aimed to evaluate the expression of AKT and phosphorylated AKT (p-Akt) in human ameloblastoma (AB). Immunohistochemistry showed human AB was positive for Akt and Akt expression was mainly found in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. The Akt expression in AB was significantly higher than that in normal oral mucosa (NOM), but still lower than that in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). NOM was negative for p-Akt, but AB was positive for p-Akt. In some AB tissues, p-Akt expression was found in both cytoplasm and nucleus. Akt expression in AB was significantly different from that in NOM and OSCC. The p-Akt in AB was markedly higher than that in NOM, but lower than that in OSCC. mTOR expressed in cytoplasm in AB, but not in NOM. P-mTOR expressed on cell membrane in NOM, while in cytoplasm and nucleus in Ab. Results of western blot assay showed that Akt expression was found in all the AB tissues, and increased in tissues with malignant transformation. In addition, the p-Akt expression also markedly increased in AB, but was still lower than that in OSCC tissues. Compared to NOM, mTOR and p-mTOR expression significantly increased in AB. BandScan 5.0 software was used to detect the optical density of protein bands. Results showed p-Akt, mTOR and p-mTOR expression in AB was markedly different from that in control group.