OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between expression of cell adhesion molecular CD44, epithelial cadherin (E-cad) and metastatic suppressor gene nm23-H1 as well as the clinicopathologic features including cell differentiation, invasion and metastasis of thyroid follicular-derived carcinoma.

METHODSForty two (42) thyroid follicular carcinomas (FTC) and 54 papillary carcinomas (PTC) were collected for studying the expression of CD44, E-cad and nm23-H1 using immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSNeoplastic epithelium and infiltrating lymphocyte expressed CD44 in an intense plasma membrane pattern. CD44 expression rates in poorly differentiated FTC (80%) and PTC cases with metastasis (78%) were significantly higher than those of well-differentiated FTC cases (64%) and PTC without metastasis cases (59%) respectively. Thyroid carcinoma tissue was positive for E-cad and nm23-H1 in a cytoplasm pattern. Well-differentiated FTC presented a higher E-cad and nm23-H1 expression rate than poorly-differentiated FTC, but both had a lower expression rate than that of PTC (70% and 76%, P < 0.01). The expression rate and intensity of E-cad and nm23-H1 were lower and less in metastatic PTC than those in primary PTC. Expression rate of CD44 (72%) in thyroid follicular-derived carcinoma was higher than those of E-cad (54%, P < 0.01) and nm23-H1 (61%, P < 0.05). E-cad expression was adversely correlated with that of nm23-H1 (chi(2) = 15.75, P < 0.011, r = 0.522 2). There was a reverse relationship between expression of CD44 and E-cad or nm23 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCell differentiation degree in FTC and metastasis in PTC have positive correlation with the expression of E-cad and nm23, but have a reverse correlation with the expression of CD44. There was a relationship between expression of CD44, E-cad, nm23 and the characteristics of the degree of differentiation, metastatic potential and the prognosis of thyroid follicular-derived carcinoma.