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Galectin-3 and HBME-1 expression in oncocytic cell tumors of the thyroid

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Abstract

Oncocytic cell tumors (OCTs) of the thyroid include oncocytic cell adenomas (OCAs) and oncocytic cell carcinomas (OCCs). Oncocytic variant of papillary carcinoma (OVPC) has also been described. These tumors may present similar diagnostic problems as their non-oncocytic counterparts, in both conventional histology and fine-needle aspiration biopsies. Several markers were shown able to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid follicular tumors, galectin-3 and HBME-1 being the most promising ones. Controversial data have been reported on their discriminatory potential in the small series of OCTs so far analyzed. We aimed to assess the role of galectin-3 and HBME-1 in a large series of 152 OCTs (including 50 OCAs, 70 OCCs and 32 OVPCs). The expression of PPARγ protein was also evaluated. Using a biotin-free detection system, the sensitivity of galectin-3 was 95.1%, while that for HBME-1 was nearly 53%. The combination of galectin-3 and HBME-1 increased the sensitivity up to 99%. However, for both markers, the specificity was 88%, lower than that reported for non-oncocytic follicular tumors. PPARγ protein overexpression was absent in all OCAs tested and present in only 10% of OCCs, confirming previous reports on the low prevalence of PAX8-PPARγ translocations in OCT and ruling out its role as a potential diagnostic marker of malignancy.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by grants from the Italian Ministry of University and Education (ex 60% to M.P.), from the Regione Piemonte (D.D. no.173 dated October 30, 2003, to F.O.), and The Compagnia di San Paolo “Progetto Speciale Oncologia”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Marco Volante & Francesca Bozzalla-Cassione

  2. Division of Pathology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Armando Bartolazzi

  3. Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano—University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Roberta DePompa, Enrico Saggiorato, Fabio Orlandi & Mauro Papotti

  4. Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 , Orbassano (TO), Italy

    Mauro Papotti

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  1. Marco Volante
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  2. Francesca Bozzalla-Cassione
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  4. Enrico Saggiorato
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Correspondence to Mauro Papotti.

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Volante, M., Bozzalla-Cassione, F., DePompa, R. et al. Galectin-3 and HBME-1 expression in oncocytic cell tumors of the thyroid. Virchows Arch 445, 183–188 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-004-1074-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-004-1074-5

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