Zedenius J, Ståhle-Bäckdahl M, Enberg U, Grimelius L, Larsson C, Wallin G, Bäckdahl M
Department of Surgery, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
World J Surg. 1996 Jan;20(1):101-6. doi: 10.1007/s002689900018.
Thyroid tumors vary widely in biologic behavior, they range from benign adenomas to rapidly growing anaplastic carcinomas. Among thyroid neoplasms, the follicular tumor is especially suited as a model for studies of tumor cell invasion; the distinction between adenomas and carcinomas relies mainly on the presence of capsular and vascular invasion. Matrix metalloproteinases play an important role in tumor cell invasion, as they are able to degrade basement membrane and extracellular matrix components. Twenty-nine thyroid tumors of varying type and aggressiveness were selected for analysis of relative molecular weight 72,000-dalton type IV collagenase (gelatinase A) expression by mRNA in situ hybridization. Strong gelatinase A mRNA expression was seen in 10 of 14 follicular carcinomas, in none of six follicular adenomas, in all four anaplastic carcinomas, and in four of five papillary carcinomas. The expression was restricted to fibroblasts in the stroma adjacent or close to invading tumor cells. Twelve of the tumors were also investigated for expression of stromelysin 3 mRNA, no expression of which was detected in any tumor. The findings suggest that gelatinase A contributes to the invasive process and spread of aggressive thyroid tumors.
甲状腺肿瘤的生物学行为差异很大，从良性腺瘤到快速生长的间变性癌都有。在甲状腺肿瘤中，滤泡性肿瘤特别适合作为肿瘤细胞侵袭研究的模型；腺瘤和癌的区分主要取决于包膜和血管侵袭的存在。基质金属蛋白酶在肿瘤细胞侵袭中起重要作用，因为它们能够降解基底膜和细胞外基质成分。选择了29例不同类型和侵袭性的甲状腺肿瘤，通过mRNA原位杂交分析相对分子质量72,000道尔顿的IV型胶原酶（明胶酶A）的表达。在14例滤泡癌中的10例、6例滤泡腺瘤中均未发现、4例间变性癌全部以及5例乳头状癌中的4例中观察到强明胶酶A mRNA表达。该表达仅限于邻近或靠近侵袭性肿瘤细胞的基质中的成纤维细胞。还对其中12例肿瘤进行了基质溶解素3 mRNA表达的研究，在任何肿瘤中均未检测到其表达。这些发现表明明胶酶A有助于侵袭性甲状腺肿瘤的侵袭过程和扩散。
