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Increased expression of integrin β‐4 in papillary thyroid carcinoma with gross lymph node metastasis
Author(s) -
Kitajiri Shinichiro,
Hosaka Naoki,
Hiraumi Harukazu,
Hirose Tomoko,
Ikehara Susumu
Publication year - 2002
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.1440-1827.2002.01379.x
Subject(s) - thyroid carcinoma , metastasis , immunohistochemistry , pathology , medicine , thyroid , carcinoma , integrin , lymph node , cancer research , oncology , cancer , receptor
Although the prognosis is generally good for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, gross nodal metastasis of carcinoma has a poor prognosis. It is necessary to clarify how carcinoma progresses to gross nodal metastasis in order to establish a cure. The adhesion molecule integrin β‐4 is considered to be related to cell migration and metastasis in many carcinomas. In the present study, we examined integrin β‐4 expression in 65 cases of human papillary thyroid carcinoma using immunohistochemical methods. Expression of integrin β‐4 was found in all papillary carcinomas, but in few normal thyrocytes. Interestingly, integrin β‐4 expression in the carcinomas with gross (˘3 cm) lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that in carcinomas with small (<3 cm) or no lymph node metastasis. These results suggest that integrin β‐4 expression in thyroid carcinoma may play a role in the development of gross lymph node metastasis of papillary carcinomas.