Premium
Estrogen receptors and cathepsin d in human thyroid tissue
Author(s) -
Métayé Thierry,
Millet Christine,
Kraimps JeanLouis,
Aubouin Brigitte,
Barbier Jacques,
Bégon François
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19930915)72:6<1991::aid-cncr2820720633>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - medicine , thyroid , receptor , estrogen receptor , estrogen , endocrinology , cancer , breast cancer
Background . To investigate the significance of estrogen receptors (ER) in the pathogenesis of thyroid dysplasia, the authors analyzed, by analogy with breast cancers, ER and three estrogen‐regulated proteins: progesterone receptor (PR), cathepsin D, and pS2 protein, in cytosols of 42 human thyroid tissues. Methods . ER and PR were measured by an immunoenzymatic assay and cathepsin D and pS2 by an immunoradiometric assay. Tissue specimens included 7 normal tissues, 6 benign nodules, 8 toxic adenomas, 7 from patients with Graves disease, and 14 carcinomas. Results . ER was present at very low concentrations, with no statistical difference between neoplastic and nonneoplastic tissues. The mean levels of cathepsin D, expressed as pmol/mg protein minus thyroglobulin, were higher in the 14 carcinomas ( P = 0.0003), the 7 specimens from patients with Graves disease ( P = 0.006), and the 8 toxic adenomas ( P = 0.04) than in the 7 normal thyroid tissues. A significant difference also was observed between the carcinomas ( P = 0.003) and six benign nodules. Compared to TNM parameters, cathepsin D concentrations correlated with tumor size: higher cathepsin D levels were found in pT4 than in pT2 and pT3 carcinomas. All the tissues tested were negative for PR and pS2 protein. Conclusions . The results clearly indicate a significant difference between neoplastic and normal thyroid tissue in terms of the amount of cathepsin D, but not that of ER. This suggests that cathepsin D probably is not regulated by estrogen but simply is a marker of protease activity during invasion by thyroid carcinomas.