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Immunohistochemical detection of E-cadherin, α- and β-catenins in papillary thyroid carcinoma

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Abstract

E-cadherin and catenins play a major role in neoplastic cell behavior as a suppressor of invasion and/or metastasis. The aim of this study was to determine E-cadherin, α-catenin and β-catenin expressions in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to correlate the results of expression to initial clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcome. Forty-one cases (mean age 37.3±11.2 yr) with PTC were studied. Patients were followed-up with a mean period of 47.6±27.0 months. A retrospective immunohistochemical analysis of E-cadherin, α-catenin and β-catenin was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Tissues from ten patients with benign goiter were used as controls. E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin immunoreactivities were found in 80% (33/41), 76% (31/41) and 97% (40/41) of patients respectively. No correlation was found between E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin immunoreactivities and sex, local invasion or lymphatic spread at the time of initial examination. Distant metastases and/or local recurrences developed in 6 patients during follow-up. Recurrences/metastases developed both E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin positive and negative primary tumors. Disease-free survival curves according to Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test did not show any significant differences between E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin positive and negative patients. According to our findings, E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin expressions may not add any valuable information to the follow-up in a subgroup of PTC patients with a relatively benign course.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Tozkoparan Mah., Kopuz Sokak, Cevahir Koru Sitesi, D Blok, Daire: 10, Merter/Istanbul, Turkey

    Y. Kapran,  Nese Özbey & F. Dizdaroğlu

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Çapa, Istanbul, Turkey

    S. Molvalilar & E. Sencer

  3. Department of General Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Çapa, Istanbul, Turkey

    S. Özarmağan

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  1. Y. Kapran
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  2. Nese Özbey
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  3. S. Molvalilar
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  4. E. Sencer
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  5. F. Dizdaroğlu
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  6. S. Özarmağan
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Correspondence to Nese Özbey.

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Kapran, Y., Özbey, N., Molvalilar, S. et al. Immunohistochemical detection of E-cadherin, α- and β-catenins in papillary thyroid carcinoma. J Endocrinol Invest 25, 578–585 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345079

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