Keywords
vimentin
cell junctions
papillary thyroid carcinoma
metastasis
goiter
multinodular goiter
How to Cite
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has a decisive influence on the process of metastasis (Mts) formation. A
key event of EMT is the reorganization of intercellular junctions. E-cadherin plays an important role in tumorigenesis, cancer
progression, Mts formation, affecting cancer cells motility and is considered as tumor suppressor. It has been repeatedly proven
that E-cadherin is lost during tumor progression and Mts formation. Vimentin is a mesenchymal marker of invasive cancer cells.
It is consistently observed to be overexpressed during cancer Mts and is therefore generally acknowledged as a canonical
biomarker of type-3 EMT. The aim of the study was to compare the mRNA expression of E-cadherin and vimentin in the
tissues of patients with nodular goiter, multinodular goiter (MNG), papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with and without Mts to
the lymph nodes. Material and methods. Postoperative samples of tumor tissue, Mts, nodular goiter, MNG and conditionally
normal tissue were used for the studies. The expression of E-cadherin and vimentin mRNA was determined using quantitative
real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results. The obtained data indicate that the expression of the mesenchymal
marker vimentin in PTC tissue and Mts significantly exceeds the level of its expression in goiter tissues. Moreover in MNG the
vimentin mRNA expression is significantly reduced compared to normal tissue. In Mts the level of mRNA expression of the
marker is higher than in the primary tumor. It was shown a moderate suppression of E-cadherin mRNA expression in goiter
tissues and a profound suppression of the epithelial marker expression in the PTC and especially in Mts. The decrease in the
E-cadherin expression was also observed in goiter tissue. Сonclusions. Thus, an increase of vimentin and especially decrease
in E-cadherin mRNA expression in PTC may be markers of Mts formation. They can also be used for differentiation between
benign and malignant thyroid lesions.
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