title: Expression of c-Jun, p73, Casp9, and N-ras in thymic epithelial tumors: relationship with the current WHO classification systems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the expression and differential significance of c-Jun, p73, Casp-9 and N-ras in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) with the aim to provide useful information for tumor biology and prospective therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we analyzed the expression of four chromosome 1-related genes, namely c-Jun, p73, Casp-9 and N-ras, in 60 cases of thymic epithelial tumors. The tumors included 52 thymomas and 8 thymic carcinomas which were categorized according to the current WHO classification systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the normal thymus tissue, all thymic epithelial tumors demonstrated higher expression of c-Jun and p73. The expression of c-Jun and p73 in type B2, B3 thymoma and thymic carcinomas was similar, and significantly higher than that in all other subtypes of thymomas. Unlike type A thymoma, the expression of Casp-9 was relatively lower in type B thymoma and thymic carcinomas. With respect to the clinical staging systems, c-Jun was more expressed in progressive tumors harboring higher stages. In contrast to c-Jun, p73 and Casp-9, there was no significant aberration with N-ras expression irrespective of either tissue or tumor types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overexpression of c-Jun, p73 and Casp-9 in thymic epithelial tumors is closely related with the pathogenesis and biological behavior of the neoplasms. These candidate biomarkers provided useful information for prospective personalized therapy in the clinical management.
  http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1521774814749726.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China. yuqingm0928@126.com
authors.forename: Yuqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qiaoxin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000032:analysis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013945:Thymoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D014944:World Health Organization; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C000606460:TP73 protein, human; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053453:Caspase 9; D018631:ras Proteins