lactoferrin and Carcinoma--Papillary

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Follicular; Adenoma; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Papillary; Ceruloplasmin; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lactoferrin; Reproducibility of Results; Secretory Component; Sensitivity and Specificity; Thyroid Diseases; Thyroid Neoplasms

The expression of lactoferrin (LF), ceruloplasmin (CP) and secretory component (SC) in various thyroid diseases was investigated using an immunohistochemical method. LF is an iron-binding protein overexpressed in certain human adenocarcinomas. CP is implicated in carcinogenesis and SC is part of the local immune defense system. Sections of 15 follicular adenomas, 5 follicular carcinomas (FC), 16 papillary carcinomas (PC), 15 goitres and 2 cases of lymphocytic thyroiditis were re-examined and investigated immunohistologically by a streptavidin-biotin method. A positive immunostain reaction for CP and LF was observed in all cases of PC and FC. A positive immunostain reaction for SC was observed in 13/16 cases of PC and 4/5 cases of FC. A negative immunostain reaction for CP, LF and SC was observed in medullary cancers, in follicular adenomas and in the cases with goitre. We conclude that the immunostain expression of LF, CP and SC is a valuable diagnostic aid in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid tumors. The expression of SC indicates the presence of a local immunodefensive system.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Follicular; Adenoma; Carcinoma, Papillary; Ceruloplasmin; Diagnosis, Differential; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lactoferrin; Secretory Component; Thyroid Diseases; Thyroid Neoplasms

Fifty-nine thyroid tumors were re-examined and studied using immunohistochemistry to detect the presence of ceruloplasmin (CP), lactoferrin (LF), thyroglobulin, thyrocalcitonin, carcinoembryonic antigen and ferritin. In an attempt to study the contribution of the immunodetection of CP and LF in the diagnosis of malignant versus benign tumors, specially in follicular tumors, we compared our results of immunodetection with those of Tuccari and Barresi, and carried out our own studies on the usefulness of these immunolabelling. Concerning CP and LF staining, we have found the following data: 1) little (in contrast to Tuccari and Barresi) or no staining in normal thyroid and benign adenomas; 2) diffuse and intense staining in papillary and follicular carcinomas (as noted by the previous authors); 3) diffuse and weak staining for medullary carcinomas (in contrast to Tuccari and Barresi who found none). Our findings suggest that a diffuse and intense cytoplasmic staining with CP and LF concerning more than one third of all cells is a criterion of malignancy, whereas a weak paranuclear staining of a few cells is more in favor of a benign process.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenoma; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Papillary; Ceruloplasmin; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lactoferrin; Neoplasm Proteins; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Thyroid Neoplasms

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Carcinoma, Papillary; Humans; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Thyroid Neoplasms