Expression of Bcl-2, Bax and p27 in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer with or without Lymph Node Metastasis

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesZZThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p27 and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Subjects and MethodZZThe thyroid tissue samples were obtained randomly from the department of pathology at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. The specimens were from 72 patients, comprising 25 patients with thyroid nodular hyperplasia (TNH), 23 PTC without LNM, and 24 PTC with LNM between January 2006 and May 2008. Immunohistochemical staining for Bcl2, Bax, and p27 was performed, and quantified blindly by three pathologists who had no clinical information of the patients. Immunohistochemical expression was scored as high (>25% of cells stained) or low (0-25%). ResultsZZExpression of Bcl-2 was scored as high for 1 (4%) TNH, 3 (13%) PTC without LNM and 4 (17%) PTC with LNM cases. Expression of Bax was scored as high for 0 (0%) TNH, 9 (39%) PTC without LNH and 16 (67%) PTC with LNM cases. Expression of p27 was scored as high for 13 (52%) TNH, 12 (52%) PTC without LNM and 13 (54%) PTC with LNM cases. Expression of Bax in the PTC with LNM group was scored higher than TNH (p<.01) and PTC without LNM (p<.05). There was no statistically difference in the immunoreactivity for Bcl-2 and p27 among the three groups. However, some positive expressions of p27 were noted at the cytoplasm of the PTC. ConclusionZZOur results suggest that immunohistochemical analysis of Bax may be helpful in the diagnosis of PTC and in the evaluation of lymph node metastatic potential in PTC. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2010;53:153-8 Key WordsZZPapillary carcinoma·Lymph nodes·Bax·Bcl-2·p27.