title: Coexistent Anaplastic and Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to clarify the underlying molecules that might contribute to the highly aggressive behavior of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. We selected 5 cases of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma that had a differentiated area to determine differences in the molecules of undifferentiated and differentiated cancer cells. We immunohistochemically examined the localization of nuclear antigen (Ki-67), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53, apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), CD26, galectin-3, E-cadherin, and CD147. We found an increased Ki-67, PCNA, and p53 labeling indices; decreased levels of Apaf-1, CD26, galectin-3, and E-cadherin; and overexpression of CD147 in the undifferentiated area compared with the differentiated area. These findings indicate high proliferative properties, suppression of apoptosis, disruption of cell-cell interaction, and induction of matrix metalloproteinases in the undifferentiated areas. Thus the molecules examined might be useful for evaluating the aggressive nature of this tumor and the prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory for Clinical Investigation, Miyazaki University Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yatsuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aratake
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Tomio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marutsuka
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Kanji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuma
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okayama
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okayama