ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression and clinical significance of Muc1, p63 protein in diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma and conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma.@*METHOD@#Immunohistochemistry (SP) was used to detect the expressions of Muc1, p63 protein in 30 samples of DSVPTC (experiment group) and 30 samples of CPTC (control group). Patients in two groups were matched in age, gender, tumor side, tumor size and date of diagnosis.@*RESULT@#(1) The positive rate of Muc1 in DSVPTC and CPTC was 76.67% (23/30) and 53.33% (16/30) respectively, immunohistochemical staining expressed as brown or tan particles in the membrane or the cytoplasm,with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The positive rate of p63 in DSVPTC and CPTC was 80% (24/30) and 43.33% (13/30) respectively, immunohistochemical staining expressed as a brown or tan particles in the muclei,with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). (2) Cervical lymph node metastasis rate in DSVPTC and CPTC was 50% (15/30) and 20% (6/30) respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). (3) In All cases,the positive rate of Muc1 in cervical lymph node metastasis group (21 cases) and without metastasis group (39 cases) was 85.71% (18/21) and 53.85% (21/39) respectively,with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05); the positive rate of p63 was 95.24% (20/21) and 43.59% (17/39) respectively,with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). (4) Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that expression of Muc1 and p63 were positively correlated in both groups(r = 0.530,0. 386, P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#(1) There are high expression of Muc1 and p63 protein in DSVPTC, and relatively low expression in CPTC, DSVPTC have a higher rate of cervical lymph node metastasis at the time of being diagnosed, compared to the CPTC. These results show that DSVPTC is a more biologically aggressive variant of the PTC. (2) Abnormal expression of Muc1 and p63 may be important to promote the progression and metastasis of PTC, thus they can be used as predictors of malignant behavior in PTC. (3) Muc1 and p63 may be synergistically promote proliferation and invasion metastasis of the PTC malignant cell.