Catenins (alpha, ss, and gamma) are a group of intracellular
cell adhesion molecules that unite cytoskeleton with extracellular adhesion system. Abnormal expression of these molecules may have prognostic relevance in various
carcinomas, including differentiated
thyroid carcinoma (DTC). We have, therefore, evaluated the prognostic value of alpha-, ss-, and gamma-
catenins along with traditional risk factors in 206 consecutive DTC patients by immunohistochemistry.
Papillary carcinomas showed normal staining pattern for alpha-, ss-, and gamma-
catenins in 124 (60%), 136 (67%), and 94 (46%) cases, respectively. Follicular
carcinomas expressed alpha-, ss-, and gamma-
catenins normally in 16 (48%), 18 (55%), and 8 (32%) cases, respectively. Follicular type of
tumor showed more often reduced staining for all
catenins than
papillary carcinoma (P: = 0.009, P: = 0.004, and P: = 0.002, respectively). Age (>60 yr) and pTNM-stage were related to reduced alpha- and ss-
catenin expression levels (P: = 0.027 and P: = 0.026, respectively) and larger size of the
tumor to reduced ss- and
gamma-catenin expressions (P: = 0.039 and P: = 0.007, respectively). Nodal
metastases at the time of primary treatment related to reduced
alpha-catenin expression and distal
metastases to reduced ss- and
gamma-catenin staining signals (P: = 0.022, P: = 0.014, and P: = 0.039, respectively). Reduced
alpha-catenin associated with
tumor recurrence (P: = 0.002) and reduced ss-
catenin with
cancer-related mortality (P: = 0.005). The multivariate analysis for recurrence-free survival showed that
alpha-catenin and serum
thyroglobulin level 1 yr after primary treatment were prognostic of recurrent disease (hazards ratio, 3.42, P: = 0.022; and hazards ratio, 10.03, P: = 0.0001). In addition,
alpha-catenin retained its prognostic significance in low-stage patients (P: = 0.0151). We propose that the evaluation of
alpha-catenin expression by immunohistochemistry in DTC patients has prognostic value in addition to that obtained by traditional prognostic factors.