Syndecan-1 expression in thyroid carcinoma: stromal expression followed by epithelial expression is significantly correlated with dedifferentiation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of syndecan-1 in thyroid neoplasia. Syndecan-1 is a proteoglycan regulating cell adhesion. Previous studies have demonstrated that decreased expression of syndecan-1 is linked to malignant progression.


RESULTS
Syndecan-1 expression in thyroid neoplasia was studied immunohistochemically. Syndecan-1 was expressed in stromal cells as well as neoplastic epithelial cells. Stromal syndecan-1 expression was observed more frequently in papillary carcinomas larger than 10 mm in size than in microcarcinomas and in widely invasive than in minimally invasive follicular carcinomas. Furthermore, poorly differentiated carcinomas showed this phenomenon more than well-differentiated carcinomas, but the expression in undifferentiated carcinomas was similar to that of poorly differentiated carcinomas. Epithelial syndecan-1 expression was more frequently observed in anaplastic (undifferentiated) carcinomas than in papillary and follicular carcinomas. No significant difference in epithelial expression was found between well and poorly differentiated carcinomas, but undifferentiated carcinomas expressed epithelial syndecan-1 more frequently than did poorly differentiated carcinomas.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are in contrast to those previously reported for carcinomas at other sites. It is suggested that the role of syndecan-1 in thyroid carcinomas might be unique. Stromal syndecan-1 expression followed by its epithelial expression is significantly related to progression, including dedifferentiation of thyroid carcinoma.
Ito
Y
Y
Kuma Hospital, Kobe, Japan. ito01@kuma-h.or.jp
Yoshida
H
H
Nakano
K
K
Takamura
Y
Y
Miya
A
A
Kobayashi
K
K
Yokozawa
T
T
Matsuzuka
F
F
Matsuura
N
N
Kuma
K
K
Miyauchi
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053668:Syndecan-1; D053667:Syndecans; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; C508241:SDC1 protein, human; D053668:Syndecan-1; D053667:Syndecans