Autocrine motility factor receptor expression associates with tumor progression in thymoma

We assessed the autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR/gp78) expression i n thymoma. AMFR/gp78 antigen was identified in tumor cells in 16 out of 51 (31.4%) thymomas. The AMFR/gp78 expression was closely associated with the stage (I/II vs. III/IV, p<0.0001), pathological subtypes (epithelial vs. ot her types, p=0.0214), and enhanced expression of ex-smooth-muscle actin wit hin stroma (p<0.0001). The outcome of the patients with AMFR/gp78 expressio n was significantly worse than for those without it (p<0.01). All initial t umors with recurrence expressed AMFR/gp78. The AMFR/gp78 appears to be invo lved in tumor progression in thymoma.