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Global DNA methylation evaluation: potential complementary marker in differential diagnosis of thyroid neoplasia

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Abstract

The implications of global DNA hypomethylation were recently reported in several models of tumorigenesis. Little is known about this epigenetic event in thyroid neoplasia. The study aimed to evaluate the status of global DNA methylation in several types of thyroid tumors using a monoclonal antibody specific for 5-methylcytidine (5-mc) and to define the diagnosis potential of this marker. 5-mc immunostaining scores were calculated in 17 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC), 6 follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTC), 16 follicular adenomas (FA), 19 nodular goiters (NG) and ten Hürthle cells adenomas (HCA). The expression of galectin-3 was also evaluated. Computerized image analysis showed a significant lower level of 5-mc immunostaining in thyroid carcinoma when compared with benign tumors or adjacent normal thyroid parenchyma (P<0.0001). Overall, 5-mc accuracy to distinguish malign from benign thyroid tumors was similar to that of galectin-3 (89% versus 87%, P>0.05). The combination of 5-mc with galectin-3 led to an excellent accuracy level of 96%. Among follicular neoplasia 5-mc accuracy to differentiate malign tumors trends to be higher than galectin-3 one (90% versus 66%, P=0.06). These data stress the necessity of epigenetic events evaluation among thyroid nodules and propose global DNA methylation assessment as a potential diagnostic tool to combine with other valuable markers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology, CHU, Saint Etienne, France

    Bogdan Galusca, Sandrine Lassandre & Bruno Estour

  2. Endocrinology, UMF Gr.T.Popa, Iasi, Romania

    Bogdan Galusca

  3. Pathology, CHU, Saint Etienne, France

    Jean Marc Dumollard & Michel Peoc’h

  4. EA6063, Inserm, Saint Etienne, France

    Jean Marc Dumollard & Michel Peoc’h

  5. UPRESA 5082 CNRS, Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France

    Alain Niveleau

  6. ORL, CHU, Saint Etienne, France

    Jean Michel Prades

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  1. Bogdan Galusca
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  2. Jean Marc Dumollard
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Correspondence to Bogdan Galusca.

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Galusca, B., Dumollard, J.M., Lassandre, S. et al. Global DNA methylation evaluation: potential complementary marker in differential diagnosis of thyroid neoplasia. Virchows Arch 447, 18–23 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-005-1268-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-005-1268-5

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