Immunohistochemical levels of cyclo-oxygenase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor in papillary thyroid carcinoma and their clinicopathological correlations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To measure the levels of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunostaining in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and benign thyroid tumours, and to investigate potential correlations between their levels and clinicopathological characteristics. METHODS: The levels of immunohistochemical staining of COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF proteins were measured in tumours from patients with PTC and compared with specimens from patients with benign thyroid tumours. The association between the levels of COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF proteins and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with PTC was also analysed. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients with PTC and 40 patients with benign thyroid tumours participated in the study. The rates of positive immunostaining for COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF in PTC tumours were significantly higher than those in benign thyroid tumours. There were significant positive associations between positive immunostaining for COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF proteins and age (≥45 years), clinical stage (III-IV) and tumour diameter (≥ 2 cm). CONCLUSION: Combined immunohistochemical evaluation of the levels of COX-2, MMP-9 and VEGF in PTC might be a useful marker for the diagnosis of PTC.