BACKGROUNDGlucosylceramide synthase (GCS) can reduce ceramide levels and help cells escape ceramide-induced apoptosis, thus leading to multidrug resistance (MDR). However, its expression and clinical significance in thyroid neoplasms still remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the expression of GCS and explore its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs).

METHODSWe retrospectively investigated GCS protein expression level in tissue specimens obtained from 108 consecutive PTC patients by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

RESULTSGCS was weakly positive or negative in normal follicular cells, but it was frequently overexpressed in PTC cells. GCS overexpression was associated with primary tumor size, local infiltration, lymph node metastasis, and local recurrence, but not associated with gender, age, pathological variants, tumor multifocality, tumor stage or distant metastasis. Western blotting also showed that GCS protein levels were much higher in PTCs' tissues than in normal thyroid tissues.

CONCLUSIONGCS was upregulated in PTCs and might be an independent factor affecting prognosis.