title: Expression of ECM1 and MMP-2 in follicular thyroid lesions among Egyptians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid nodules require pre-surgical cytological assessment for possible risk of malignancy. Many techniques were introduced to enhance differential diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary diagnostic surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to investigate the potential use of ECM1 gene and MMP-2 protein as preoperative tumor markers in suspicious follicular thyroid lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 40 Egyptian cases with solitary thyroid nodules. They underwent preoperative FNAB followed by thyroidectomy. MMP-2 protein and ECM1 gene were detected using immunostaining and conventional semi-quantitative RT-PCR techniques; respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of FNAB, gene and protein expression level cutoffs was calculated by using ROC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both MMP-2 protein and ECM1 gene expressions were significantly higher in malignant than benign group (P < 0.001). Both were significantly higher in higher tumor stages (PMMP-2= 0.002; PECM1 = 0.032) but only ECM1 significantly differed with tumor size (P < 0.006). The diagnostic performances of ECM1 expression scores was significantly better than that of FNAB (P = 0.049). A significant direct correlation was detected between ECM1 gene and MMP-2 protein expressions in cases of FVPC and of FC (P = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-2 protein and ECM1 gene are useful preoperative markers for defining malignancy in suspicious thyroid nodules.
authors: Pathology Department, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Abdel Salam
authors: Pathology Department, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: El-Badry
authors: Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rizk
authors: Pathology Department, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: El-Sedfy
authors: Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Kamel
authors: Molecular Biology Department, Medical Technology Centre, MRI, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: El-Abd
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C490607:ECM1 protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
keywords: ECM1 (Extracellular matrix protein 1); FNAB (fine needle aspiration biopsy); MMP-2 (Matrix metalloproteinase-2); RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction); immunostaining; thyroid nodules