Expression Of Ki-67, Galectin-3 And PTTG In Benign And Malignant Thyroid Tumor And Their Significance

Objective: To study the expression of Ki-67, Galectin-3 and Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) in thyroid tumors and its relations to carcinogenesis of thyroids carcinoma,and to assess their value as markers in the differential diagnoses of thyroid tumors. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue of 10 cases of normal thyroid tissue, 13 cases of follicular adenomas (FA), 40 cases of papillary carcinomas (PC) and 14 cases of follicular carcinomas (FC). Results: Ki-67 was expressed in nuclear, while Galectin-3 and PTTG were expressed in the cytoplasm. In normal thyroid tissue, follicular adenomas (FA), thyroid carcinomas (TC), papillary carcinomas (PC) and follicular carcinomas (FC), positive expressions of Ki-67 was 0%(0/10)?23.08%(3/13), 70.37%(36/54), 65%(26/40), 85.71% (12/14) respectively; Galectin-3 was 0% (0/10),15.38%(2/13), 87.04% (47/54), 95% (38/40), 64.29% (5/14) respectively; PTTG was 0%(0/10), 15.38% (2/13), 90.74 (49/54), 90% (36/40), 57.14% (6/14) respectively. In normal thyroid tissue, follicular adenomas (FA), follicular carcinomas (FC) and papillary carcinomas (PC), positive expressions of two markers was 0%?0%?50%?100% respectively. 1) The detected frequency of three markers in normal thyroid tissue, follicular adenomas(FA)and malignant tumors (PC and FC) were revealed statistically significance (P<0.05); 2) The expression of three markers in FA, PC, FC were revealed statistically significance (P<0.05); 3) Between two malignant lesions (PC, FC), the differences of Galectin-3 were statistically significant as well; 4) The simultaneous expression of two makers in FA and malignant tumors (PC and FC) were revealed statistically significance (P<0.05); 5) There was not a significant correlation between Ki-67 and Galectin-3?Ki-67 and PTTG?Galectin-3 and PTTG (P>0.05). Conclusions: 1) The expression of Ki-67?Galectin-3 and PTTG may play important roles in the development of thyroid carcinoma; 2) Immunohistochemical stains of Ki-67?Galectin-3 and PTTG, especially be used in combination, can be used as important biomarkers for histopathological diagnoses of thyroid lesions; 3) The expression of Galectin-3 can be used as an important adjunct for diagnoses of PC and FC.