title: Runx2 mRNA expression in the tissue, serum, and circulating non-hematopoietic cells of patients with thyroid cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Runx2, a master gene of osteogenic differentiation, is also expressed in nonosseous cancer cells. Microcalcifications are characteristic of papillary thyroid carcinoma and represent a useful find for diagnosis. However, the molecular expression of osteogenic differentiation transcription factor Runx2 has been poorly investigated in this tumor.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate Runx2 mRNA expression in normal and pathological thyroid tissue, serum, and circulating non-hematopoietic cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in the Endocrine Unit of Internal Medicine of "Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona" (Verona, Italy).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 12 patients with a papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), who had undergone total thyroidectomy performed by the same surgeon. The results, obtained by real-time RT-PCR, were compared with biological samples obtained from 13 sex- and age-matched normal donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data demonstrated that Runx2 mRNA is overexpressed (7.81-fold expression) in pathological thyroid tissue than in normal tissue (P < 0.05). Runx2 mRNA overexpression was also observed in serum and circulating non-hematopoietic cells of PTC patients with respect to normal donors (5.91-fold expression, P < 0.001; 3.82-fold expression, P < 0.05, respectively). We also observed that patients with microcalcifications expressed significantly higher levels of Runx2 mRNA in serum with respect to patients without microcalcifications (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study can open up new research perspectives in the diagnosis and follow-up of PTC, even if further and larger cohort studies will be necessary to validate the Runx2 expression as biomarkers in thyroid cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Clinic of Internal Medicine D, University of Verona, Piazzale Scuro, 10, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dalle Carbonare
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frigo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Francia
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Davì
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donatelli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stranieri
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brazzarola
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zatelli
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menestrina
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Valenti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000502:physiology; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493709:RUNX2 protein, human; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf