Muc-1 expression may help characterize thyroid nodules but does not predict patients' outcome.
Our purpose was to evaluate MUC1 clinical utility in the diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid cancer patients. We studied the protein expression of MUC1 in 289 thyroid carcinomas and 121 noncancerous thyroid nodules. There were 41 follicular carcinomas (FC) and 248 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) including 149 classic (CPTC), 20 tall cell (TCPTC) and 79 follicular variants (FVPTC). In addition, we used a quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) method to measure MUC1 mRNA expression levels in 108 carcinomas, 23 hyperplasias, and 19 FA. According to their serum Tg levels and other evidences of recurrence/metastasis, the patients were classified as free-of-disease (185 cases) or bad outcome (56 cases, 10 deaths). MUC1 protein was identified in 80.2% PTC; 48.8% FC; 68.3% FVPTC; 70% TCPTC; 21.8% FA; 30% hyperplasias and 6% normal thyroid tissues. MUC1 distinguished benign from malignant thyroid tissues (sensitivity = 89%; specificity = 53%). MUC1 also differentiated FC from FA (p = 0.0083). q-PCR mRNA expression of MUC1 also distinguished malignant from benign nodules (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.0001). However, neither IHC nor mRNA MUC1 expression was associated with any clinical or pathological feature of aggressiveness or outcome. We suggest that MUC1 expression may help differentiate follicular patterned thyroid lesions.
Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Tessalia Vieira de Camargo 126, Barão Geraldo St, Campinas, SP 13083-887, Brazil.
Elaine Cristina
EC
Morari
Joyce Rosário
JR
Silva
Ana Carolina Trindade
AC
Guilhen
Lucas Leite
LL
Cunha
Marjory Alana
MA
Marcello
Fernando Augusto
FA
Soares
José
J
Vassallo
Laura Sterian
LS
Ward
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger