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Absence of mutations in the β ‐catenin and adenomatous polyposis coli genes in papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas
Author(s) -
Miyake Noriko,
Maeta Hiroyuki,
Horie Satoshi,
Kitamura Yukisato,
Nanba Eiji,
Kobayashi Kaoru,
Terada Tadashi
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1827.2001.01269.x
Subject(s) - adenomatous polyposis coli , wnt signaling pathway , beta catenin , cancer research , carcinogenesis , catenin , exon , biology , familial adenomatous polyposis , thyroid carcinoma , mutation , gene mutation , thyroid , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , cancer , medicine , endocrinology , genetics , colorectal cancer
β ‐Catenin has multiple functions both in intercellular adhesion and in signal transduction. As a signaling molecule, mutations in exon 3 of the β ‐catenin gene stabilize this protein in the cytoplasm. Subsequently, accumulated β ‐catenin protein translocates to nuclei with T‐cell factor‐4, and upregulates transcriptional activity of the target genes involved in carcinogenesis. Mutations in exon 3 of the β ‐catenin gene have been detected in various carcinomas. We examined immunolocalization of β ‐catenin protein and mutations in the β ‐catenin and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) genes in papillary carcinoma (25 cases), follicular carcinoma (two cases), and benign thyroid tumor (29 cases). We detected no mutation in exon 3 of the β ‐catenin gene in both malignant and benign thyroid tumors by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. No mutations in the mutation cluster region of APC were found in any tumor samples analyzed. Immunohistochemically, β ‐catenin showed membranous localization in most specimens. These results suggest that mutations of the β ‐catenin and APC genes are rare and that activation of the Wnt signaling pathway may not contribute to pathogenesis in human papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas.