title: ProNGF is a potential diagnostic biomarker for thyroid cancer.
abstract: The precursor for nerve growth factor (proNGF) is expressed in some cancers but its clinicopathological significance is unclear. The present study aimed to define the clinicopathological significance of proNGF in thyroid cancer. ProNGF expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry in two cohorts of cancer versus benign tumors (adenoma) and normal thyroid tissues. In the first cohort (40 thyroid cancers, 40 thyroid adenomas and 80 normal thyroid tissues), proNGF was found overexpressed in cancers compared to adenomas and normal samples (p<0.0001). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.84 (95% CI 0.75-0.93, p<0.0001) for cancers versus adenomas, and 0.99 (95% CI 0.98-1.00, p<0.0001) for cancers versus normal tissues. ProNGF overexpression was confirmed in a second cohort (127 cancers of various histological types and 55 normal thyroid tissues) and using a different antibody (p<0.0001). ProNGF staining intensity was highest in papillary carcinomas compared to other histological types (p<0.0001) and there was no significant association with age, gender, tumor size, stage and lymph node status. In conclusion, proNGF is increased in thyroid cancer and should be considered as a new potential diagnostic biomarker.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Severine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roselli
authors.affiliation: Inserm U908, Growth Factor Signaling and Functional Proteomics of Breast Cancer, University of Lille, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.|Present address: INSERM U1138 team 11, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Yohann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Demont
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pundavela
authors.affiliation: Medical Diagnostic Discovery Department, bioMérieux, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Choquet
authors.affiliation: Medical Diagnostic Discovery Department, bioMérieux, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leissner
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oldmeadow
authors.affiliation: Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton NSW 2305, Australia.|School of Public Health & Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.affiliation: Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton NSW 2305, Australia.|School of Public Health & Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Marjorie M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton NSW 2305, Australia.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hondermarck
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011498:Protein Precursors; C061397:pro-nerve growth factor, human; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: diagnostic biomarker; growth factors; proNGF; thyroid cancer