title: A novel stem cell associated marker identified by monoclonal antibody HESC5:3 differentiates between neoplastic lesions in follicular thyroid neoplasms.
abstract: Follicular thyroid lesions are the bane of cytopathology. Differentiation between adenoma and carcinoma is impossible, and often these neoplasms are indistinguishable even from uninodular goitre. In other cancers as well, a theory of stem cells as the origin of cancer has been discussed in thyroid carcinogenesis. We aimed to examine a novel stem cell associated marker identified by monoclonal antibody HESC5:3 in follicular lesions in an attempt to find a marker for differential diagnosis in thyroid cytopathology. HESC5:3 was raised against and is specific for undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells. The epitope of this novel antibody is to be defined. Immunohistochemical expression of HESC5:3 was examined in clinical material comprised of follicular neoplasms (83 adenomas, 43 carcinomas) and non-neoplastic lesions (41 goitrous, 22 hyperplastic, 23 normal tissue specimens). Staining differed significantly between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. Nuclear staining was increased in non-neoplastic cells, whereas in neoplastic cells expression was mainly cytoplasmic. There was no difference between benign and malignant lesions, suggesting a role in early tumourigenesis. In conclusion, the HESC5:3 epitope may be of benefit as a neoplasia marker in distinguishing between uninodular goitre and neoplasia. Characterization of the epitope would increase the interest in this promising new stem cell associated marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute and HUSLAB, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Annukka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
authors.affiliation: Fujirebio Diagnostics AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fermér
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute and HUSLAB, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hagström
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Louhimo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mäenpää
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siironen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Heiskanen
authors.affiliation: Fujirebio Diagnostics AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute and HUSLAB, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arola
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute and HUSLAB, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.|Department of Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Caj
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haglund
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000737:chemistry*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000939:Epitopes
keywords: Follicular thyroid neoplasia; differential diagnostics; goitre; immunohistochemistry; stem cell marker