UPA,β-catenin expression status and microvessel density correlated to invasion and metastasis in thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA)and β-catenin proteins and their relationship with tumor angiogenesis,and explore their correlation with invasion and metastasis of thyroid carcinoma.Methods SP immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of uPA,β-catenin and CD105 in 90 cases of thyroid carcinoma tissues.MVD counting was performed and analyzed in conjunction with the clinicopathological features of human thyroid carcinomas.Results The positive rate of uPA expression and abnormal expression rate of β-catenin and the MVD value was positively correlated with histological typing of thymid carcinoma.There was significant difference in thyroid carcinoma with lymph node metastasis,which was significantly higher than those cases without lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05),as well as between clinical stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ and Ⅰ～Ⅱ.The MVD value was significantly correlated with the positive expression of uPA and abnormal expression of β-catenin in thyroid.There was statistically significant correlation between the expression of uPA and β-catenin.Conclusion The expression of uPA protein in thyroid carcinoma was higher than those in normal.A reduced membranous expression rate and abnormal nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of β-catenin was observed in thyroid carcinoma cells,which was positively correlated with histological typing and clinical staging,invasion and metastasis in thyroid carcinoma.uPA and β-catenin were cooperated in angiogenesis of thyroid carcinoma.MVD was positively correlated with invasion and metastasis in thyroid carcinoma.They were hopeful to be an important prognostic indicator of thyroid carcinoma. Key words: Thyroid neoplasms/PP; Urinary plasminogen activator; Cytoskeletal proteins/ME; Capillaries; Neoplasm invasiveness; Neoplasm metastasis