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Cyclooxygenase‐2 Expression in Human Thyroid Carcinoma and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Author(s) -
Cornetta Anthony J.,
Russell John P.,
Cunnane Mary,
Keane William M.,
Rothstein Jay L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-200202000-00008
Subject(s) - thyroid , thyroid carcinoma , thyroiditis , medicine , pathology , immunohistochemistry , carcinogenesis , cyclooxygenase , thyroid cancer , thyroid peroxidase , cancer research , cancer , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
Objectives Cyclooxygenases (COX) are enzymes that catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. COX‐2, unlike the constitutively expressed COX‐1, is an inducible enzyme upregulated during cell proliferation and inflammation. More recently, COX‐2 has been implicated in the development of numerous types of epithelial cancers. In addition, COX‐2 is highly expressed in several inflammatory diseases. Because of its dual role in inflammation and cancer, we were interested in determining if COX‐2 plays a role in the development of human thyroid carcinoma and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition frequently associated with thyroid malignancy. Materials and Methods Twenty paraffin‐embedded human tissue specimens, including normal, inflammatory, and neoplastic thyroid sections, were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining for expression of human COX‐2. In addition, COX‐2 protein expression was verified by Western blot in two specimens. Results Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the presence of COX‐2 in thyroid epithelial neoplasms, including papillary and follicular carcinomas. Moreover, COX‐2 expression was observed in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. COX‐2 expression, however, was not observed in normal thyroid tissue, multinodular goiter, or anaplastic carcinoma. Conclusions We have shown that cyclooxygenase‐2 is expressed in thyroid carcinoma and thyroid epithelium from patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis but not in normal thyroid. The expression of COX‐2 in both of these thyroid pathologies may provide a basis for the relationship between carcinogenesis and autoimmunity.