Immunohistochemical expression of CD44 in thyroid gland lesions

BACKGROUND: CD44 is a polymorphic family of cell surface proteoglycans and glycoproteins implicated in cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix adhesion interactions and tumor metastasis. Its expression appears to be an indicator of invasive and metastatic behavior in carcinomas. The purpose of our study is to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of CD44 protein in thyroid lesions and its association to other histopathological parameters. METHODS: Samples from thyroid lesions were obtained from 40 patients treated in our hospital. The material consisted of 5 cases of multinodular goiter, 7 cases of thyroiditis (Hashimoto type), 5 cases of follicular adenoma, 4 cases of Hurthle cell tumor, 15 cases of thyroid carcinoma (11 papillary carcinomas, and 4 myeloid tumors), and 4 cases of normal thyroid tissue. Immunostaining was performed using the Ventana ES automated immunostainer. A monoclonal antibody was used and avidin-biotin method was applied to paraffin-embedded samples. A membranous immunostaining pattern was considered positive. RESULTS: CD44 expression was detected in three adenomas (60%), mostly of follicular type, and in eight carcinomas (72%). The CD44 immunostaining was especially apparent in papillary type of carcinomas which showed high expression. In normal thyroid tissue, a reduced CD44 expression was observed. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that deregulated expression of CD44 contributes to the ability of thyroid carcinomas for invasion and metastasis and may constitute a prognostic factor for malignant biological behavior

The Immunocytochemistry Is a Valuable Tool in the Diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer in FNA's Using Liquid-Based Cytology

Introduction. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignancy of the thyroid. An accurate cytological diagnosis is based on distinctive cytological features in combination with immunocytochemistry. Methods. A number of 83 fine needle aspirations, positive for papillary thyroid cancer (44 from thyroid nodules and 39 from cervical lymph nodes), were studied using Thin Layer Cytology. A panel of the immunomarkers Cytokeratin-19, Galectin-3, HBME1, CD-44, CD-56, and E-Cadherin was performed. Results. Positive expression of CK-19 was observed in 77 cases (92.7%), of Galectin-3 in 74 cases (89.1%), of HBME1 in 65 (78.3%), and of CD-44 in 72 cases (86.7%). Loss of expression of CD-56 was observed in 80 cases (96.4%) and of E-cadherin in 78 (93.9%). Conclusions. Our data suggest that Thin Layer Cytology increases the diagnostic accuracy in papillary carcinoma and seems to be a promising technique for further investigation of thyroid lesions permitting the possibility to use archive material. Positive immunoexpression of CK-19, Galectin-3, HBME-1, and CD-44 improves the diagnostic accuracy of papillary thyroid cancer. Furthermore, loss of E-cadherin and of CD-56 expression is a feature of malignancy

Cervical masses as manifestation of papillary thyroid carcinomas ≤10 mm in diameter, in patients with unknown thyroid disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas are tumors often found accidentally after thyroidectomy for other thyroid disorders.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with enlarged lateral cervical masses, with unknown thyroid disease, found to have metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma ≤10 mm in diameter, were compared to patients operated on for nodular or multinodular goiter, who were incidentally found to have papillary thyroid microcarcinomas.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Group A included 24 patients with an enlarged lateral cervical mass whereas group B included 30 patients presenting with nodular or multinodular goiter. Patients in both groups underwent surgery. After thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection, pathology revealed multifocal papillary carcinomas of 1–10 mm, with invasion of the thyroid capsule and surrounding soft tissue in most of the cases in group A. Two patients presented with distant metastases at diagnosis which were surgically removed. During follow up, 3 patients (12.5%) presented with new cervical metastases which were surgically removed or treated with additional radioactive iodine. At last follow-up, all patients were alive. In contrast, all patients in group B had unifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma 1–10 mm in maximum diameter, with no infiltration or extension into the adjacent tissue, or cervical lymph node metastases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Two groups of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas characterized by different clinical and biological behaviours are identified. Significant differences were found between these groups concerning the age, tumor size, number of tumor foci, lymph nodes metastases and extrathyroidal extension of the tumor. Papillary thyroid carcinomas of small (≤10 mm) size may have aggressive behaviour or be metastatic, and this subgroup should be treated and followed up as are other large, differentiated thyroid cancers.</p

Primary mediastinal liposarcoma: a case report

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

PAK1 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer: Clinicopathological Characteristics and Prognostic Significance

Background: Improvement of the management of pancreatic cancer requires a better understanding of the genetic and molecular changes responsible for the development of the disease. The family of p21-activated kinases (PAKs) and especially PAK1 appears to mediate many cellular processes that contribute to the development and progression of pancreatic cancer, but the clinical relevance of PAK1 expression with the disease still remains unclear. Aim of the study was to assess the clinical value and the potential prognostic significance of PAK1 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: We investigated the relationship between the PAK1 expression and the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of pancreatic cancer patients and the potential significance of PAK1 on survival. We examined tissue samples from 51 patients operated for pancreatic cancer. PAK1 expression was investigated with immunohistochemistry and correlated to clinicopathological parameters. Results: PAK1 was detected in all tumor samples and high expression was found in most patients. High PAK1 expression was also associated with younger age and well-differentiated tumors, but no association was found between PAK1 expression and Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage as well as deceased or alive status on follow-up. Moderate to high PAK1 expression favored higher 6-month and 1-year survival and low PAK1 expression 2-year survival but without statistical significance. Conclusions Our results indicate that PAK1 could potentially be used as a prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer. Further studies could clarify whether utilization of PAK1 in therapeutic protocols for the treatment of pancreatic cancer will render them more effective

The Immunohistochemical Expression MTA 1 Protein and its Prognostic Value in Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose/aim: To examine with immunohistochemical assay MTA1 protein expression levels in pancreatic cancer tissues defining its prognostic value. Material and Methods: The specimens derived from 51 patients who underwent surgery. The levels of MTA1 protein were compared with the age of the patients, their survival, and prognosis. Also, we studied clinical and histopathological factors such as the degree of tumor differentiation and its stage in correlation with MTA1 protein levels. In parallel, there was correlation between the expression of the ΜΤΑ1 protein and the aforementioned factors regarding survival rate. Furthermore, we independently correlated the patient's survival in relation to whether they had undergone adjuvant chemotherapy or not. Results: It has been found to be low, moderate, or high expression of MTA1 levels in 48 out of 51 cancer tissues. Specifically, 49.0% of patients had low expression, 33.3% moderate, and 11.8% high expression of MTA1. Regarding the expression of MTA1 protein in correlation with various clinical and histopathological factors, a statistically significant correlation was observed with the degree of differentiation (p = 0.0068) and with the stage of the disease (p = 0.0173), but not with survival (p = 0.0740) or the age of them (p = 0.1547). Finally, it was found that overexpression of the MTA1protein is a prognostic factor for shorter survival in patients with pancreatic cancer (average 4.67 ± 0.95 months). Conclusions: MTA 1 protein may constitute an important prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer and could improve prognosis and treatment

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuropeptides and receptor in human breast cancer: Correlation to poor prognosis parameters

Expression of the two gonadotropin-releasing hormone homologue peptides GnRHI and GnRHII and their receptor GnRHR has been demonstrated in a number of malignancies. In hormone-dependent breast cancer, GnRH analogs are used for therapy in premenopausal women. Gene expression of GnRHI, II and R was studied in breast biopsies from primary breast adenocarcinoma obtained from the tumor and the adjacent benign tissue. Levels were evaluated by a multiplex real-time RT-PCR. GnRHI transcripts were detected in 14.7% of the benign and 29.4% malignant biopsies and GnRHII in 21.2% benign and 44.1% malignant biopsies. GnRHR was also more frequent in the malignant (54.2%) than in the benign (24.0%) biopsies, at similar expression levels. No transcripts were detected in biopsies from healthy individuals. There was a strong correlation between the presence of GnRHI and GnRHII transcripts and their receptor in the benign and the malignant biopsies. GnRHI, II and R expression correlated significantly with poor prognosis pathological parameters. Immunohistochemistry for GnRHR revealed expression in malignant cells and in epithelial cells of mammary ducts of the adjacent area with pre-cancerous features. In contrast, GnRH I and II peptides were rarely expressed at low levels in breast cancer cells. In conclusion GnRH peptides and receptor are expressed more frequently in breast tumors than in the adjacent mammary tissue, representing a malignant feature. Their expression correlated to tumor characteristics of poor prognosis and was therefore related to more aggressive malignancies. Concomitant expression of peptides and receptor supports an autocrine/paracrine regulating role. © 2012 Elsevier Inc