AIMS

The objective of this study was to compare the protein expression profile between well-differentiated (papillary) and undifferentiated (anaplastic) thyroid carcinoma in Tunisian patients.

METHODS

This first Tunisian retrospective study concerned data of 38 thyroid cancer cases (19 papillary carcinoma PTC and 19 anaplastic carcinoma ATC) collected at Salah Azaiez Institute of Tunisia. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate tumor expression of different molecular markers (p53, Ki67, E-cadherin, cyclin D1, bcl2, S100 and Her-2). The molecular expression was correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors.

RESULTS

There were 6 differentially expressed markers when comparing anaplastic thyroid carcinoma ATC with papillary thyroid carcinoma PTC. Expression of p53 and Ki67 were significantly increased in 16 and 18 ATC cases respectively, the Ki67 expression was lost in PTC. Cyclin D1, E-cadherin, bcl2 and S100 were overexpressed in PTC tumors; however, they were significantly decreased in ATC. The last marker, Her-2 was expressed in one case of PTC only.

CONCLUSION

Our results, similar with findings of other ethnic groups, showed alteration in expression of molecular markers associated with tumor dedifferentiation, indicating loss of cell cycle control with increased proliferative activity in ATC carcinoma. These data support the hypothesis that ATC may derive from dedifferentiation of preexisting PTC tumor.