The localization of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin in thyroid microcarcinoma in comparison with clinically manifested thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

A comparative study was performed by the use of immunoperoxidase staining of 11 cases of thyroid microcarcinoma and 7 cases of clinically manifested thyroid carcinoma. Antibodies against four kinds of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin were used. In both the microcarcinoma and manifested carcinoma groups, actin and myosin were found in almost all neoplastic cells of all patients, and keratin and vimentin were present in the tumor cells of several patients. Keratin was found only in papillary carcinoma cells. Thyroglobulin was present in the neoplastic cells of several patients from each group; follicular carcinoma cells and keratin-negative cells reacted more strongly with thyroglobulin than did papillary carcinoma cells or keratin-positive cells. There was no special difference between microcarcinoma and clinically manifested carcinoma in the location of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin.