title: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in thyroid nodules.
abstract: Factors contributing to the development of thyroid neoplasia remain poorly understood. Recent evidence indicates that overexpression of the inducible cyclooxygenase, COX-2, is important in the pathogenesis of epithelial carcinomas. These studies were undertaken to evaluate whether COX-2 is up-regulated in human thyroid neoplasia. Benign (n = 14), and malignant (n = 14) thyroid nodules were analyzed for expression of COX-2 mRNA by quantitative RT-PCR. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry were performed on representative samples. Three human thyroid cancer cell lines were similarly analyzed for COX-2 expression. Levels of COX-2 mRNA were significantly increased in thyroid nodule samples compared with adjacent thyroid tissue in the malignant specimens but not in the benign specimens. Additionally, COX-2 mRNA levels were significantly increased in malignant nodule samples compared with benign nodule samples. COX-2 protein expression was higher in 8 of 10 thyroid nodules compared with the adjacent tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis localized expression of COX-2 to the malignant epithelial cells. Immunofluorescence demonstrated COX-2 protein expression in all three thyroid cell lines. Finally, COX-2 expression could be detected by RT-PCR in fine needle aspiration specimens of thyroid nodules. These data indicate that COX-2 is up-regulated in human thyroid cancer, but not in benign thyroid nodules, and suggest that COX-2 expression may serve as a marker of malignancy in thyroid nodules.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Specht
authors.forename: Olga N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hocever
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Lisong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fahey
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases