Immunohistochemical Expression of COX-2 in Thyroid Nodules.
- Author:
Sang Jin KIM
1
;
Jae Hak LEE
;
Ji Sung YOON
;
Ji O MOK
;
Yeo Joo KIM
;
Hyeong Kyu PARK
;
Chul Hee KIM
;
Dong Won BYUN
;
Kyo Il SUH
;
Myung Hi YOO
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Medical College, Cheonan, Korea. ksj1113@schch.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
COX-2;
Thyroid nodule;
Immunohistochemistry
- MeSH:
Human;
*Immunohistochemistry;
Isoenzymes/*analysis;
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthase/*analysis;
Thyroid Nodule/*enzymology/*pathology;
Tumor Markers, Biological/*analysis
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
2003;18(4):225-229
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Recent evidence indicates that elevated COX-2 expression is associated with the carcinogenesis of numerous neoplasms. In this study, we investigated COX-2 expression in various thyroid specimens in order to elucidate its physiological role in pathologic conditions, and to evaluate the efficiency of COX-2 protein expression as a molecular marker of malignancy in the thyroid gland. METHODS: COX-2 expression was studied immunohistochemically in 19 papillary carcinomas, 8 follicular carcinomas, 14 follicular adenomas, 2 H rthle cell carcinomas, 4 H rthle cell adenomas, 8 nodular hyperplasias, 3 Graves' diseases, 3 Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 2 medullary carcinomas, 1 anaplastic carcinoma, and 20 normal thyroid tissues. RESULTS: COX-2 staining was not seen in any of the normal thyroid, Graves' disease, or nodular hyperplasia specimens. In contrast, COX-2 staining was observed in all of papillary carcinomas, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, H rthle cell carcinomas, and H rthle cell adenomas tissues. Moreover, 7 of 8 follicular carcinomas and 11 of 14 follicular adenomas showed COX-2 staining. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that COX-2 is not useful as a marker of malignancy. Since COX-2 expression was evident in follicular adenomas and in papillary and follicular carcinomas. Thus, the enzyme may be involved in the early process of thyroid tumorigenesis.
