title: Expression of haem oxygenase-1 correlates with tumour aggressiveness and BRAF V600E expression in thyroid cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an inducible enzyme that participates in haem degradation. Recent studies have indicated that HO-1 activation may play a role in tumour development and progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of HO-1 in thyroid cancer and its clinicopathological significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed up-regulation of HO-1 in papillary thyroid tumours in comparison with normal thyroid tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that 48% of papillary cancers and 36% of follicular cancers, but none of normal thyroid tissues, were positive for HO-1 expression. Among 129 differentiated thyroid cancers, HO-1 expression was associated with patient age (P = 0.001), TNM stage (P = 0.001), and Mayo Clinic metastasis, patient age, completeness of resection, local invasion and tumour size score (P = 0.001). BRAF V600E expression was evaluated immunohistochemically and validated by Sanger sequencing. There was a strong association between HO-1 and BRAF V600E expression in papillary cancers (P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overexpression of HO-1 in a subset of thyroid cancers is associated with tumour aggressiveness and BRAF V600E expression. HO-1 might have a potential role in prognosis and targeted treatment in patients with thyroid cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mackay Memorial Hospital and Mackay Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan; Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tao-Yeuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chien-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ming-Jen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jie-Jen
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pou Chu
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Pun
authors.forename: Shih-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
keywords: BRAF; haem oxygenase-1; immunohistochemistry; thyroid cancer