Correlation of E-cadherin, VEGF, COX-2 expression to prognostic parameters in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Thyroid cancer represents approximately 1% of all human malignancies. papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignant tumor of the thyroid gland, accounting for 70–80% of all thyroid cancers. In the US, the incidence of thyroid cancer is 4 per 100,000 individuals. It is two to four times as frequent in women as in men.The development of PTC is influenced by many factors including genetic alterations, growth factors, and physical agents such as radiation.In order to recognize the prognosis for PTC, a lot of clinic and pathological parameters such as; age, tumor size, extra-thyroid tumor spread, lymph node, distant metastases, gender, tumor stage are used. As most of these parameters are subjective, more objective and useful prognostic factors are needed for determining biologic behavior, providing an initial assessment.In this study, we aimed to compare the expressions of COX-2, E-cadherin, VEGF to classical prognostic factors, and to investigate the correlation with prognosis. Operation records from 79 PTC cases were examined retrospectively. In the study, we aimed to investigate the whole tissue by means of stereology method, which is an impartial one, and we indicated the expression COX-2, VEGF, E-cadherin immunohistochemically in 79 resection diagnosed with PTC. We determined correlations between the expressions of COX-2 and VEGF, E-cadherin, and age, gender, and stage.

Research highlights
► In the study, we aimed to investigate the whole tissue by means of stereology method.
► Significant relationship was observed between age, gender and increased VEGF, COX-2 expression with advanced stage.
► Whereas, E-Cadherin expression with age, we found it to be related to staining intensity.