Gene expression profiling identifies platelet-derived growth factor as a diagnostic molecular marker for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Cancer diagnostics and therapeutics are often based on clinically relevant markers that are expressed specifically in a malignant tissue at levels higher than in normal tissue. We examined potential markers for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) by monitoring PTC-specific gene expression using cDNA microarray.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

Gene expression profiles for PTC tissue, normal thyroid tissue, and healthy peripheral blood cells were compared by use of a human 4000-gene cDNA microarray. Protein expressions of the up-regulated genes in PTC were examined in thyroid tissues by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS:

Sixty-four genes were overexpressed in PTC tissue relative to normal thyroid tissue and healthy peripheral blood cells. The genes that were up-regulated in PTC were involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA damage response, angiogenesis, and oncogenesis. Among these genes, basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor were identified by immunochemical methods as proteins that are specifically expressed at high levels in thyroid neoplasms. Basic fibroblast growth factor, which has been identified as a biomarker for PTC, was overexpressed in 54% of PTC cases, 67% of follicular thyroid carcinomas, and 36% of benign thyroid neoplasms. Platelet-derived growth factor was overexpressed in 81% of PTC cases and 100% of follicular carcinomas, but was immunonegative in normal thyroid tissues and benign thyroid neoplasms.

CONCLUSIONS:

Platelet-derived growth factor may be a potential biomarker for PTC and follicular carcinoma. Expression profile analysis using a microarray followed by immunohistochemical study can be used to facilitate the development of molecular biomarkers for cancer.

• Authors: Yukiko Yano, Naoya Uematsu, Tohru Yashiro, Hisato Hara, Ei Ueno, Masanao Miwa, Gozoh Tsujimoto, Yuji Aiyoshi, Kazuhiko Uchida
• Journal: Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (Clin Cancer Res) Vol. 10 Issue 6 Pg. 2035-43 (Mar 15 2004) ISSN: 1078-0432 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15041723 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Genetic Markers
• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor

Topics

• Carcinoma, Papillary (genetics)
• Cell Cycle (genetics, physiology)
• Gene Expression Profiling (methods)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Genetic Markers
• Humans
• Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis (methods)
• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (genetics)
• Reference Values
• Thyroid Gland (cytology, physiology)
• Thyroid Neoplasms (genetics, pathology)