title: Diagnostic and clinical significance of KIT(CD117) expression in thymic epithelial tumors in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study KIT (CD117) expression in thymic epithelial tumors in China, and investigate diagnostic and clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) from 102 patients (3 type A, 29 type AB, 5 type B1, 22 type B2, 29 typeB3 and 16 thymic carcinomas) were examined. Immunohistochemical staining with an antic-kit monoclonal antibody was performed on a tissue microarray. Relationships between KIT positive expression and the TET clinical characteristics (WHO histologic classification and Masaoka stage system) were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The KIT positive expression rate was significantly higher in thymic carcinoma (60%, 9/16) than in thymoma (8%, 7/86), a strong correlation being found with the WHO classification, but not the Masaoka tumor stage. The overall survival for patients with KIT positive lesions was significantly worse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KIT is a good molecule marker to differentially diagnose thymic carcinoma from thymoma, while also serving as a predictor of prognosis for TETs. Further research into KIT mutations in Chinese TETs should be conducted to assess the efficacy of targeted therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen-Xin
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Ge-Ning
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002681:China; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013945:Thymoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit