UbcH10 expression on thyroid fine-needle aspirates.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples belonging to the follicular neoplasm/suspicious for malignancy classes are controversial. The authors identified UbcH10 as a marker useful in the diagnosis of several neoplasms, including thyroid cancer. Here, analysis of UbcH10 expression by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry was applied to FNAs.


METHODS
A series of 84 follicular neoplasm/suspicious for malignancy FNAs with histological follow-up (30 malignant) was prospectively collected. UbcH10 immunostaining was performed on cell blocks and compared with that of the proliferation marker Ki-67. At the mRNA level, UbcH10 was compared with CCND2 and PCSK2 expression, these latter being the best performing components of the previously reported 3-gene assay; to determine the diagnostic accuracy, the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for each gene individually and in combination was evaluated.


RESULTS
UbcH10 and Ki-67 shared a similar pattern; although UbcH10 expression was higher in malignant than in benign lesions (P < .001), staining was sporadic, and the cutoff value derived by the ROC analysis was too low (1.25%) for routine application. Conversely, UbcH10 expression assessment by quantitative RT-PCR was effective. UbcH10 mRNA levels associated with malignant histology were significantly higher than those associated with benign histology (P = .02). The AUC was 0.74 for UbcH10, 0.81 for CCDN2, 0.62 for PCSK2, and 0.84 for UbcH10 and CCND2 combination.


CONCLUSIONS
UbcH10 quantitative RT-PCR analysis, rather than immunohistochemistry, is useful to increase the detection of malignancy in thyroid FNAs. UbcH10 may be added as a panel component in quantitative RT-PCR-based assays.
Guerriero
Eliana
E
Department of Biomorphology Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Ferraro
Angelo
A
Desiderio
Doriana
D
Pallante
Pierlorenzo
P
Berlingieri
Maria Teresa
MT
Iaccarino
Antonino
A
Palmieri
Emiliano
E
Palombini
Lucio
L
Fusco
Alfredo
A
Troncone
Giancarlo
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C105156:UBE2C protein, human; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes