Over-expression of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and the HGF/SF receptor (cMET) are associated with a high risk of metastasis and recurrence for children and young adults with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The study determined if hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) or the HGF/SF receptor (cMET) might be important for metastasis in thyroid cancer.


METHODS
We examined HGF/SF and cMET expression by immunohistochemistry in a retrospective group of benign and malignant thyroid lesions from children and young adults, and correlated the intensity of expression with clinical outcome.


METHODS
Patients included 42 children and young adults with papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC), seven with follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTC), two with medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC), 14 with benign thyroid disorders, and two with normal thyroids.


METHODS
Expression of cMET was graded from 0 (absent) to 4 (intense); and HGF/SF expression was graded from 0 (absent-minimal) to 3 (diffuse and intense).


RESULTS
cMET staining was greater in PTC (mean intensity 2.3 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.2, P < 0.005) and FTC (2.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.2, P = 0.04) than benign lesions (0.8 +/- 0.2) or normal thyroids (0.4 +/- 0.5). PTC with intense cMET staining had shorter disease free survival (P = 0.05) and increased HGF/SF staining (r = 0.39, P = 0.017). HGF/SF correlated with the extent of disease at diagnosis (r = 0.33, P = 0.049). Patients with PTC were stratified into quartiles based on combined cMET and HGF/SF staining. Those with intense cMET and HGF/SF staining were younger (P = 0.05), and had reduced disease free survival (P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that increased cMET and HGF/SF expression is associated with a high risk for metastasis and recurrence in children and young adults with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Ramirez
R
R
Department of Paediatrics, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Hsu
D
D
Patel
A
A
Fenton
C
C
Dinauer
C
C
Tuttle
R M
RM
Francis
G L
GL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met