Chang Won Jung1, Kang Hee Han1, Hyesil Seol1, Sunhoo Park2, Jae Soo Koh1, Seung-Sook Lee2, Min Joo Kim3, Ik Joon Choi4, Jae Kyung Myung2. 1. Department of Pathology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital Seoul, Korea. 2. Department of Pathology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital Seoul, Korea ; Laboratory of Radiation Pathology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital Seoul, Korea. 3. Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital Seoul, Korea. 4. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an undifferentiated tumor of the thyroid that has poor prognosis owing to its aggressive behavior and resistance to current treatments. We hypothesized that the stem cell properties induced by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was one of reasons for the dismal outcome of ATC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paraffin blocks and slides of 17 ATC cases were retrieved. We also collected 60 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) for comparison. We used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of multiple markers of cancer stem cells and EMT-activating transcriptional factors. RESULTS: Majority of ATC cases showed loss of epithelial (E)-cadherin expression (15/17); however, all PTC cases (60/60) retained E-cadherin expression. EMT-activating transcription factors, such as snail and slug, were more frequently expressed in ATC than PTC cases (35.3% versus 6.7%, 76.5% versus 5%, respectively). Cancer stem cell markers such as CD133 and nestin were more highly expressed in ATC than PTC (52.9% versus 5%, 52.9% versus 0%, respectively). CONCLUSION: We found that the expression of EMT-related factors and stem cell markers was higher in ATC than PTC. We therefore conclude that stemness induced by EMT plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ATC.
BACKGROUND:Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an undifferentiated tumor of the thyroid that has poor prognosis owing to its aggressive behavior and resistance to current treatments. We hypothesized that the stem cell properties induced by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was one of reasons for the dismal outcome of ATC. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Paraffin blocks and slides of 17 ATC cases were retrieved. We also collected 60 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) for comparison. We used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of multiple markers of cancer stem cells and EMT-activating transcriptional factors. RESULTS: Majority of ATC cases showed loss of epithelial (E)-cadherin expression (15/17); however, all PTC cases (60/60) retained E-cadherin expression. EMT-activating transcription factors, such as snail and slug, were more frequently expressed in ATC than PTC cases (35.3% versus 6.7%, 76.5% versus 5%, respectively). Cancer stem cell markers such as CD133 and nestin were more highly expressed in ATC than PTC (52.9% versus 5%, 52.9% versus 0%, respectively). CONCLUSION: We found that the expression of EMT-related factors and stem cell markers was higher in ATC than PTC. We therefore conclude that stemness induced by EMT plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ATC.
Authors: Sam M Wiseman; Hamid Masoudi; Paddy Niblock; Dmitry Turbin; Ashish Rajput; John Hay; Douglas Filipenko; David Huntsman; Blake Gilks Journal: Am J Surg Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 2.565
Authors: Darya Buehler; Heather Hardin; Weihua Shan; Celina Montemayor-Garcia; Patrick S Rush; Sofia Asioli; Herbert Chen; Ricardo V Lloyd Journal: Mod Pathol Date: 2012-08-17 Impact factor: 7.842
Authors: Myriem Boufraqech; Lisa Zhang; Naris Nilubol; Samira M Sadowski; Shweta Kotian; Martha Quezado; Electron Kebebew Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2016-03-30 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: James P De Andrade; Allison W Lorenzen; Vincent T Wu; Maria V Bogachek; Jung M Park; Vivian W Gu; Claire M Sevenich; Victoria C Cassady; Anna C Beck; Mikhail V Kulak; Robert A Robinson; Geeta Lal; Ronald J Weigel Journal: Oncotarget Date: 2017-10-23