Diagnostic Value of Galectin-3, HBME-1, Cytokeratin 19, High Molecular Weight Cytokeratin, Cyclin D1 and p27(kip1) in the Differential Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules

The distinction between benign and malignant thyroid tumors is critical for the management of patients with thyroid nodules. We applied immunohistochemical staining for galectin-3, HBME-1, cytokeratin 19 (CK19), high molecular weight cytokeratin (HMWCK), cyclin D1 and p27(kip1) in 295 thyroid lesions to determine their diagnostic accuracy. The expression of all markers was significantly associated with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).The sensitivity for the diagnosis of DTC was 94.7% with galectin-3, 91.3% with HBME-1, and 90.3% with CK19. The specificities of these markers were 95.5%, 69.7%, and 83.1%, respectively. Combining these markers, co-expression of galectin-3 and CK19 or galectin-3 and HBME-1 was seen in 93.2% of carcinomas but in none of the benign nodules. Comparing follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (FVPC) with follicular carcinoma (FC), the expression of galectin-3, CK19, and HMWCK was significantly higher in FVPC. When comparing FC with FA, the expression of galectin-3 and HBME-1 was significantly higher in FC. These results suggest that 1) galectin-3 is a useful marker in the distinction between benign and malignant thyroid tumors, 2) the combined use of HBME-1 and CK19 can increase the diagnostic accuracy, and 3) the use of CK19 and HMWCK can aid in the differential diagnosis between PC and FC.

Expression of p21 and p27 in gallbladder cancer

To investigate the expression of p21 and p27 factors in gallbladder cancer [GBC], and to correlate their expression with clinicopathological parameters: age, gender, stage, invasion, and grade. Thirty-two surgically resected specimens were collected between 1994-2001 from different health centers in north Jordan. Tissues belong to 25 females and 7 males were examined immunohistochemically. The study took place in the Pathology Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan. Levels of p21 were found in 75% and p27 in 25%. Furthermore, p21 was expressed in 50% of the specimens which are belong to patients with ages <64 years, whereas all specimens for ages >64 years have p21WAF1/CIP1 expression [p=0.001]. The expression of p21 between advanced stages [stages III and IV] was 89.5% and early stages [stages I and II] was 53.8% [p=0.031]. The p27 expression was markedly decreased in GBC cases [25%] and there were no significant correlation between p27KIP1 expression and all clinicopathological parameters including gender, World Health Organization grades, stages, and invasion, whereas the expression of p21 was 75% and there was a significant correlation between p21 and the clinicopathological parameters including gender, stages, and invasion

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein C is increased in the celecoxib-induced growth inhibition of human oral squamous cell carcinoma

Celecoxib is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) that is a critical factor in carcinogenesis, but precise mechanism of its action remains to be elucidated. Here we evaluated the inhibitory effect of celecoxib on cell growth of human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) YD-10B, which was established to be used as in vitro OSCC model, and identified celecoxib-regulated protein by proteomics techniques. Celecoxib (IC50=37 micrometer) inhibited the growth of YD-10B cells with the decrease of COX-2 protein expression. Its inhibition could be linked in the arrest of G1 phase with increased levels of p(27)protein, a specific CDK inhibitor. Using proteomics, the 10- to 20-fold increase of heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein C (hnRNP C), which has been suggested to be related with the translation of p(27)mRNA, was observed in celecoxib-treated YD-10B cells. In summary, celecoxib has a potential to induce the protein expression of hnRNP C and its increase subsequently induce the translation of p(27)mRNA, which trigger the inhibition of cell growth via p(27)-regulated cell cycle arrest in YD-10B cells. In addition, YD-10B cells could be useful to study the pathological mechanism of OSCC.