title: Expression of c-Myc, TGF-alpha and EGF-receptor in sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: In 20 patients with sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), immuno-histochemistry was used to localize the expression of the c-Myc oncoprotein, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and these three markers were analysed regarding their relation to histopathological and histochemical variables of the tumours. The detection rates of c-Myc, TGF-alpha and EGFR were 90%, 90% and 95% respectively. Concomitant demonstration of the markers was reflected in significant associations (correlation factor between TGF-alpha and EGFR was 0.93, p < 0.001). The markers were almost invariably located within the cytoplasm, which might suggest their crucial role in growth regulation and cell differentiation; this seems especially true of TGF-alpha and EGFR. The different markers showed no relation to either histopathological or histochemical variables (tumour behaviour, tumour size, tumour cell type). The prominent co-expression of c-Myc, TGF-alpha and EGFR proteins indicates that in MTC these factors might be of importance for tumour cell proliferation via autocrine growth stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: U I
authors.initials: UI
authors.lastname: Bergholm
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Westermark
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Grimelius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015996:Survival Rate; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D066246:ErbB Receptors