Journal List > J Korean Endocr Soc > v.22(1) > 1003371

Lee, Kim, Choi, Bai, Kim, Lee, Kwon, Rha, Ku, Kim, Ro, Li, Kim, Jo, and Shong: The Relationship between the Expression of MHC Class II Antigens and the Clinical Prognosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients

Abstract

Background

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is among the most curable cancers, but some patients are at high risk for recurrence or even death. MHC antigens are essential molecules for the pathogenesis of carcinoma and also the physiologic immune responses against tumor. However, there is no data about the relationship between the expression of MHC antigens and the clinical prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma patients.

Methods

We analyzed the relationship between the various prognostic factors and the MHC antigen expression by conducting a retrospective study of 215 patients, who had undergone thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma between 1987 and 2003.

Results

The expressions of MHC class II antigens were more frequent in papillary thyroid carcinoma than in the other thyroid diseases. Yet there was no statistically significant relationship between most of the clinicopathological factors and the expression of MHC class II antigens in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients. Interestingly, an HLA-DR expression was found in 8 (30.8%) of the 26 patients in the recurrence group and in 13 (76.5%) of the 17 patients in the non-recurrence group, and HLA-DP/DQ immunoreactivity was positive in 10 (38.5%) cases of the recurrence group and in 14 (82.4%) cases of the non-recurrence group.

Conclusion

Papillary thyroid carcinoma showed a more frequent expression of MHC Class II antigens. However, the recurred papillary thyroid carcinoma showed a tendency to downregulate the expression of MHC class II antigens. Hence, the molecular mechanism for the expression of MHC class II antigens might have a role in the recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Immunohistochemical staining of MHC class II antigen expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
(A, B) Immunohistochemistry in thyroid epithelium of papillary thyroid carcinoma showed negative value (grade 0 and 1). Original magnification: × 200. (C, D) Immunohistochemistry detecting the MHC class II antigen in papillary thyroid carcinoma showed positive value (grade 2 and 3). Original magnification: × 200.
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Table 1
Comparisons of MHC class II antigen expressions between malignant diseases, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and other benign diseases
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*Malignant disease; papillary thyroid carcinoma (138), follicular thyroid carcinoma (28), medullary thyroid carcinoma (4), anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (3).

Other benign disease; nodular hyperplasia (6), diffuse hyperplasia (5), subacute thyroiditis (2), follicular adenoma (21).

Malignant disease vs. Other benign disease, Pearson Chi-Square test.

Table 2
Comparisons of MHC class II antigen expression between follicular thyroid carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma
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*Papillary thyroid carcinoma vs. Follicular thyroid carcinoma, Pearson Chi-Square test.

Table 3
Comparisons between clinical and pathological factors according to the MHC class II antigen expression
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*Pearson Chi-Square test.

Linear-by-linear association.

Independent-samples t-test.

Table 4
Baseline characteristics of patients between recurrence group and non.recurrence group in papillary thyroid carcinoma
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*Recurrence group vs. Non-recurrence group.

Pearson Chi-Spuare test.

Fisher's exact test.

§Linear-by-linear association.

Independent-samples t-test.

Table 5
Comparisons of differences in the expression of MHC antigens in recurrence group and non-recurrence group in papillary thyroid carcinoma
jkes-22-26-i005

*Recurrence group vs. Non-recurrence, Pearson Chi-Square test.

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