BETA-1-INTEGRIN EXPRESSION IN PAPILLARY THYROID-CARCINOMA

beta 1-integrins are widespread adhesion molecules which belong to a f amily of heterodimeric membrane glycoproteins and consist of two subun its, a and beta. Integrins seem to play an important role in the sprea ding and metastasis of malignant tumors. We investigated the expressio n and distribution of these adhesion molecules on papillary thyroid ca rcinomas by immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded cancer tissues. We estimated the beta 1-integrin expression in cancero us areas in comparison to normal adjacent thyroid tissue. Our results revealed a highly significant difference in all investigated parameter s between cancer and normal thyroid cells (p<0.0001). Comparing our fi ndings with the metastatic potential of the primary thyroid tumors, ou r results show that beta 1-integrin expression could be used as a prog nostic parameter for papillary thyroid tumors.