Expression of cell-cycle regulators (cyclin D1, cyclin E, p27kip1, p57kip2) in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of cell-cycle regulators in papillary thyroid carcinoma in relation to lymph node metastatic features, and to determine whether immunohistochemical staining of cell-cycle markers can predict lymph node metastasis.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of prior surgical specimens.


METHODS
Academic tertiary referral center.


METHODS
We reviewed the clinical records of patients who had undergone surgery for thyroid cancer and follicular adenoma between January 2005 and May 2008 at our clinic. Among these cases, 92 patients, comprising 28 patients with follicular adenoma, 32 with papillary thyroid carcinoma without lymph node metastasis, and 32 with papillary thyroid carcinoma with lymph node metastasis, were selected randomly. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from the 92 patients were immunohistochemically stained for cyclin D1, cyclin E, p27(kip1), and p57(kip2), and protein expression levels were quantified and compared among the groups.


RESULTS
Tumor specimens from the papillary thyroid carcinoma group had significantly higher expression levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin E, and cytoplasmic expression of p57(kip2) than the other two groups (P < 0.05). In particular, all malignant cases expressed cyclin D1, and cytoplasmic p57(kip2) was expressed only in malignant cases. Furthermore, differences in the grade of cyclin D1 expression according to lymph node metastasis were statistically significant (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that immunohistochemistry of certain cell-cycle regulators may be helpful in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma, and that cyclin D1 in particular may be a useful marker for evaluating lymph node metastasis.
Lee
Sang Hyuk
SH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Jong Kyu
JK
Jin
Sung Min
SM
Lee
Kyung Chul
KC
Sohn
Jin Hee
JH
Chae
Seung Wan
SW
Kim
Dong Hoon
DH
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019927:Cyclin E / Q000378:metabolism; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D050761:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C436291:CDKN1B protein, human; D019927:Cyclin E; D050761:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019938:Cyclin D1; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27