title: Immunohistochemical levels of cyclo-oxygenase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor in papillary thyroid carcinoma and their clinicopathological correlations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the levels of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunostaining in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and benign thyroid tumours, and to investigate potential correlations between their levels and clinicopathological characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of immunohistochemical staining of COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF proteins were measured in tumours from patients with PTC and compared with specimens from patients with benign thyroid tumours. The association between the levels of COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF proteins and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with PTC was also analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 66 patients with PTC and 40 patients with benign thyroid tumours participated in the study. The rates of positive immunostaining for COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF in PTC tumours were significantly higher than those in benign thyroid tumours. There were significant positive associations between positive immunostaining for COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF proteins and age (≥45 years), clinical stage (III-IV) and tumour diameter (≥ 2 cm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined immunohistochemical evaluation of the levels of COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF in PTC might be a useful marker for the diagnosis of PTC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thyroid Surgery, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Thyroid Surgery, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thyroid Surgery, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Thyroid Surgery, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Geratology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China jieli58@126.com.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D047368:Tumor Burden; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Papillary thyroid carcinoma; cyclo-oxygenase-2; matrix metalloproteinase-9; vascular endothelial growth factor