Oncogene expression in follicular neoplasms of the thyroid.
Oncogene expression has been found to be a potential marker for aggressive biologic behavior in certain tumors. We studied 21 follicular adenomas and 20 follicular carcinomas by immunocytochemistry utilizing specific monoclonal antibodies against HER-2/neu and c-myc oncogenes. Survival data were obtained from our institution's tumor registry. No expression of the HER-2/neu oncogene was found in the specimens studied. Cytoplasmic staining for c-myc was observed in 3 of 21 adenomas (14%) and 9 of 20 (45%) carcinomas (p < 0.05). The incidence of local, regional, and distant metastases was not significantly different in c-myc (+) and c-myc (-) patients. The c-myc oncogene is expressed more often in malignant than in benign follicular neoplasms of the thyroid, but its expression does not appear to be a good prognostic indicator.
Section of Surgical Oncology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York 10042.
L J
LJ
Auguste
S
S
Masood
A
A
Westerband
C
C
Belluco
E
E
Valderamma
J
J
Attie
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D000236:Adenoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics*; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005819:Genetic Markers; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases