Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences/Surgery, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Department of Clinical Pathology, Sunderby Hospital, Sunderbyn, Sweden.
World J Surg Oncol. 2022 Oct 14;20(1):340. doi: 10.1186/s12957-022-02805-w.
The importance of stroma for tumor progression is recognized for many cancer types. In this study, we aim to evaluate the expression of types I (Col1) and IV (Col4) collagens, alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) in the tumor stroma of small papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
Twenty-five non-metastatic small PTCs (pT1N0) and nineteen metastatic small PTCs (pT1N1b) including corresponding metastatic lateral lymph nodes were selected and paraffinized tissue blocks retrieved. The samples were stained for Col1, COL4, a-SMA, and MMP-9 antibodies using immunohistochemistry. The expression of the stromal proteins was scored and analyzed based on the location, intensity, and distribution.
Col1 and Col4 expression were significantly higher in normal thyroid tissue compared to PTC tissue. On the contrary, expression of a-SMA and MMP-9 was higher in PTC tissue compared to normal thyroid tissue. Both Col1 and Col4 were significantly more highly expressed in the non-metastatic tumors compared with metastatic tumors. The expression of a-SMA and MMP9 was slightly, but not significantly, higher in the metastasized tumors and their respective lymph nodes. There was a significant correlation between the metastasized tumors and their respective lymph nodes in Col1 and MMP-9 expression.
Col1, Col4, a-SMA, and MMP-9 expression in PTCs differs significantly from that of normal thyroid tissue. The higher expression of Col1 and Col4 in normal thyroid tissue and in the non-metastasized tumors indicates that Col1 and 4 might have a potential protective role in tumor progression. The higher expression of a-SMA and MMP9 in PTCs indicates that these proteins might have a role in promoting PTC progression and aggressiveness.
许多癌症类型都认识到基质对肿瘤进展的重要性。在这项研究中，我们旨在评估Ⅰ型（Col1）和Ⅳ型（Col4）胶原、α-平滑肌肌动蛋白（a-SMA）和基质金属蛋白酶 9（MMP-9）在小甲状腺乳头状癌（PTC）肿瘤基质中的表达。
选择了 25 例非转移性小 PTC（pT1N0）和 19 例转移性小 PTC（pT1N1b），包括相应的转移性侧颈部淋巴结，并取出石蜡组织块。使用免疫组织化学方法对 Col1、COL4、a-SMA 和 MMP-9 抗体进行染色。根据位置、强度和分布对基质蛋白的表达进行评分和分析。
Col1 和 Col4 的表达在正常甲状腺组织中明显高于 PTC 组织。相反，a-SMA 和 MMP-9 的表达在 PTC 组织中明显高于正常甲状腺组织。Col1 和 Col4 在非转移性肿瘤中的表达明显高于转移性肿瘤。a-SMA 和 MMP9 的表达在转移性肿瘤及其相应的淋巴结中略高，但无统计学意义。转移性肿瘤及其相应淋巴结之间的 Col1 和 MMP-9 表达存在显著相关性。
PTC 中 Col1、Col4、a-SMA 和 MMP-9 的表达与正常甲状腺组织有显著差异。Col1 和 Col4 在正常甲状腺组织和非转移性肿瘤中的高表达表明，Col1 和 4 可能在肿瘤进展中具有潜在的保护作用。a-SMA 和 MMP9 在 PTC 中的高表达表明，这些蛋白可能在促进 PTC 进展和侵袭性方面发挥作用。
