AIMS: Haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an inducible enzyme that participates in haem degradation. Recent studies have indicated that HO-1 activation may play a role in tumour development and progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of HO-1 in thyroid cancer and its clinicopathological significance. METHODS AND RESULTS: We observed up-regulation of HO-1 in papillary thyroid tumours in comparison with normal thyroid tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that 48% of papillary cancers and 36% of follicular cancers, but none of normal thyroid tissues, were positive for HO-1 expression. Among 129 differentiated thyroid cancers, HO-1 expression was associated with patient age (P = 0.001), TNM stage (P = 0.001), and Mayo Clinic metastasis, patient age, completeness of resection, local invasion and tumour size score (P = 0.001). BRAF V600E expression was evaluated immunohistochemically and validated by Sanger sequencing. There was a strong association between HO-1 and BRAF V600E expression in papillary cancers (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of HO-1 in a subset of thyroid cancers is associated with tumour aggressiveness and BRAF V600E expression. HO-1 might have a potential role in prognosis and targeted treatment in patients with thyroid cancer.
AIMS: Haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an inducible enzyme that participates in haem degradation. Recent studies have indicated that HO-1 activation may play a role in tumour development and progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of HO-1 in thyroid cancer and its clinicopathological significance. METHODS AND RESULTS: We observed up-regulation of HO-1 in papillary thyroid tumours in comparison with normal thyroid tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that 48% of papillary cancers and 36% of follicular cancers, but none of normal thyroid tissues, were positive for HO-1 expression. Among 129 differentiated thyroid cancers, HO-1 expression was associated with patient age (P = 0.001), TNM stage (P = 0.001), and Mayo Clinic metastasis, patient age, completeness of resection, local invasion and tumour size score (P = 0.001). BRAFV600E expression was evaluated immunohistochemically and validated by Sanger sequencing. There was a strong association between HO-1 and BRAFV600E expression in papillary cancers (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of HO-1 in a subset of thyroid cancers is associated with tumour aggressiveness and BRAFV600E expression. HO-1 might have a potential role in prognosis and targeted treatment in patients with thyroid cancer.
Authors: Jose R W Martínez; Sergio Vargas-Salas; Soledad Urra Gamboa; Estefanía Muñoz; José Miguel Domínguez; Augusto León; Nicolás Droppelmann; Antonieta Solar; Mark Zafereo; F Christopher Holsinger; Hernán E González Journal: Horm Cancer Date: 2019-03-22 Impact factor: 3.869