Immunostaining for Ret oncogene proteins in papillary thyroid carcinoma: Acorrelation of Rret immunoreactivity and potential of lymph node metastasis

Citation
Kt. Mai et al., Immunostaining for Ret oncogene proteins in papillary thyroid carcinoma: Acorrelation of Rret immunoreactivity and potential of lymph node metastasis, THYROID, 11(9), 2001, pp. 859-863
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Endocrinology, Nutrition & Metabolism
Journal title
THYROID
ISSN journal
10507256 → ACNP
Volume
11
Issue
9
Year of publication
2001
Pages
859 - 863
Database
ISI
SICI code
1050-7256(200109)11:9<859:IFROPI>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
Ret oncogenes, particularly Ret/PTC, have been associated with the potentia l of local invasion of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The purpose of th is study was to investigate the correlation between the Ret oncogene expres sion and the potential of lymph node metastasis of PTC. A total of 107 PTC were microscopically reviewed to identify areas of infiltrating carcinoma ( IC). IC was defined as tumor cells disposed in a haphazard pattern and in l obules, nests, follicles, or single cells within a desmoplastic or scleroti c stroma. All cases were submitted to immunostaining for Ret oncogene. Ther e were 36 noninfiltrating PTC with lymph node metastasis in 1 case and 71 i nfiltrating FTC with lymph node metastasis in 40 cases. For non-PTC, the po sitive immunoreactivity was often weak to moderate and focal. For infiltrat ing PTC with IC, the IC displayed strong immunoreactivity. The noninfiltrat ing component of PTC with IC usually showed stronger reactivity than PTC wi thout an infiltrating component. Furthermore, 36 of 40 metastatic PTC in ly mph node were immunoreactive. Three follicular adenomas with areas of scar caused by fine-needle aspiration biopsy were not immunoreactive for Ret. In view of the high potential of infiltrating PTC for lymph node metastasis, distinction of this type of carcinoma from its noninfiltrating form is clin ically important. Because immunoreactivity for Ret is usually positive in a reas of infiltrating PTC and is often negative or focally positive in nonin filtrating PTC, immunostaining for Ret is helpful to identify infiltrating PTC and distinguish it from changes caused by fine-needle aspiration ration biopsy in benign thyroid lesions.