Microscopic papillary thyroid carcinoma compared with clinical carcinomas by loss of heterozygosity mutational profile.
The clinical significance of microscopic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTCa) is controversial. Many authors think that microscopic PTCa (<1 cm) have the same pathogenetic origin as clinically sized papillary carcinomas (>1 cm). Despite the fact that all clinical risk prognostication schemes have the size of the tumor as a primary category, small tumors do have malignant potential and can metastasize. There is growing evidence that small PTCa have the molecular translocations between the proto-oncogene RET and various activating partner genes that are characteristic of clinically sized PTCa. This study used a microdissection and genotyping assay to study the patterns of loss of heterozygosity of tumor suppressor genes in microscopic and clinically sized PTCa. Our results indicate that all PTCa harbor mutations with similar frequencies and distribution patterns, regardless of the size of the tumor. These data are further evidence that microscopic and clinically sized PTCa are pathogenetically related.
Hunt
Jennifer L
JL
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA. HUNTJL@msx.upmc.edu
LiVolsi
Virginia A
VA
Baloch
Zubair W
ZW
Barnes
E Leon
EL
Swalsky
Patricia A
PA
Niehouse
Laura
L
Finkelstein
Sydney D
SD
D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005787:Gene Frequency; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila