Comparative Evaluation of β-Catenin and E-Cadherin Expression in Liquid Aspiration Biopsy Specimens of Thyroid Nodules

Bull Exp Biol Med. 2016 Jun;161(2):288-91. doi: 10.1007/s10517-016-3397-z. Epub 2016 Jul 7.

Abstract

We compared the results of gene molecular and immunocytochemical studies of β-catenin and E-cadherin in different variants of nodular thyroid disease (nodular colloid goiter, follicular thyroid adenocarcinoma, papillary thyroid cancer) and revealed changes of the function of the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex leading to switching from adhesion function of β-catenin in nodular colloid goiter to predominantly transcriptional activity in papillary carcinoma. The results confirm the important role of disturbances in E-cadherin-β-catenin interactions in the mechanisms of malignant transformation of follicular epithelium.

Keywords: E-cadherin; thyroid cancer; β-catenin.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / diagnosis
  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Antigens, CD
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Goiter, Nodular / diagnosis
  • Goiter, Nodular / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Thyroid Gland / metabolism
  • Thyroid Gland / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CDH1 protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • beta Catenin