Craniopharyngiomas and odontogenic tumors mimic normal odontogenesis and share genetic mutations, histopathological features and molecular pathways activation

Publication date: Available online 16 November 2018

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Carolina Cavalieri Gomes, Silvia Ferreira de Sousa, Ricardo Santiago Gomez

Odontogenic tumors bear some histopathological and molecular resemblance to craniopharyngiomas. Specifically, adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) shares morphological features and CTNNB1 (the gene encoding β-catenin) mutations with calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC), whereas papillary craniopharyngioma (PCP) and ameloblastoma are driven by BRAF mutations. Recently, important similarities between ACP and the cell signaling pathways involved in tooth formation have been described. Here we expand the interpretation of this data in the context of odontogenic tumors. We discuss some morphological and molecular features that are shared by tumors from these two distinct sites (i.e., craniopharyngiomas and odontogenic tumors). Current conservative surgical treatment is effective for most cases of benign odontogenic tumors, but in the future, the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis could impact the treatment of aggressive and/or malignant cases.

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