lactoferrin and Thyroid-Neoplasms

Topics: Adult; Biomarkers, Tumor; Chemokine CCL21; Computational Biology; Female; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Hashimoto Disease; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; Thyroid Neoplasms

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

Forty-three cases of large cell anaplastic thyroid carcinoma were examined with various antisera. Four histological patterns were identified: spindle cell, giant cell, trabecular and squamous. In 38 cases the epithelial origin was demonstrated with various epithelial markers: 11 cases stained positively for thyroglobulin, 19 for T3 and/or T4, 35 for fat globule membrane antigens, 28 for keratin, 29 for lactoferrin, and one for calcitonin. Five cases were negative for all epithelial markers but could not be characterized further since, except for vimentin, they did not have mesenchymal markers. The immunohistochemical proof of the epithelial nature of anaplastic thyroid tumours is given by staining with anti-keratin and anti-fat globule membrane antigen. In addition the detection of lactoferrin seems useful, but not that of thyroglobulin which was present in only 4% of the spindle cell tumours and in 32-56% of the other histological types. Thirty carcinomas were positive for vimentin; the co-expression of vimentin and epithelial markers seems frequent in thyroid anaplastic carcinomas.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Calcitonin; Carcinoma; Female; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Lactoferrin; Lectins; Male; Membrane Proteins; Middle Aged; Mucin-1; Peptides; Plant Lectins; Rabbits; Thyroglobulin; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyronines; Tissue Polypeptide Antigen; Vimentin

By immunocytochemistry, the presence of major iron binding proteins (lactoferrin, transferrin and ferritin) was investigated in follicular adenomas (15 cases), Hürthle cell tumours (2 cases) and carcinomas of the thyroid gland (39 cases); normal thyroid tissue was also tested as control. Follicular adenomas showed a negative reaction for all iron-binding antisera, whereas Hürthle cell tumours, follicular and papillary carcinomas exhibited a clear cytoplasmic positivity for lactoferrin and transferrin; ferritin was always absent. Anaplastic carcinomas were unstained with all iron-binding antisera with the exception of giant elements and incorporated follicular structures, which were positive for lactoferrin and transferrin. Medullary carcinomas were constantly unstained. These results are discussed in relation to the increased requirement of iron by neoplastic cells. The authors emphasize the possibility that lactoferrin and transferrin may be utilized in clarifying the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lesions of follicular cell origin; therefore, these two glycoproteins may be considered useful tools in addition to thyroglobulin.

Topics: Carrier Proteins; Ferritins; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunochemistry; Iron-Binding Proteins; Lactoferrin; Thyroid Neoplasms; Transferrin; Transferrin-Binding Proteins

By immunohistochemistry, the presence of lactoferrin was investigated in follicular adenomas (10 cases) and carcinomas of the thyroid gland (23 cases). Normal thyroid tissue was also tested as control. Follicular adenomas showed a consistent negativity, whereas follicular and papillary carcinomas exhibited various degrees of positivity for lactoferrin. Incorporated organoid structures observed in anaplastic carcinomas were strongly stained; the spindle cell parts of these cancers were always negative for this iron-binding protein. Medullary carcinomas were also unstained. These findings are discussed in relation to the distribution pattern of thyroglobulin. The authors emphasize the possibility that lactoferrin may be useful in clarifying some diagnostic problems in neoplastic thyroid pathology.

Topics: Adenoma; Carcinoma; Cytoplasm; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Thyroglobulin; Thyroid Neoplasms