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Chen K, Bai L, Ji L, Wu L, Li G. Bioinformatics analysis of the key potential ceRNA biomarkers in human thymic epithelial tumors. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e26271. [PMID: 34128858 PMCID: PMC8213305 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000026271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), originating from the thymic epithelial cells, are the most common primary neoplasms of the anterior mediastinum. Emerging evidence demonstrated that the competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) exerted a crucial effect on tumor development. Hence, it is urgent to understand the regulatory mechanism of ceRNAs in TETs and its impact on tumor prognosis. METHODS TETs datasets were harvested from the UCSC Xena as the training cohort, followed by differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), and miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) at different pathologic type (A, AB, B, and TC) identified via DESeq2 package. clusterProfiler package was utilized to carry out gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes functional analysis on the DEmRNAs. Subsequently, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed to screen the key DEmRNAs. After the key DEmRNAs were verified in the external cohort from Gene Expression Omnibus database, their associated-ceRNAs modules were used to perform the K-M and Cox regression analysis to build a prognostic significance for TETs. Lastly, the feasibility of the prognostic significance was validated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve. RESULTS Finally, a total of 463 DEmRNAs, 87 DElncRNAs, and 20 DEmiRNAs were obtained from the intersection of differentially expressed genes in different pathological types of TETs. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the DEmRNAs were closely related to cell proliferation and tumor development. After lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network construction and external cohort validation, a total of 4 DEmRNAs DOCK11, MCAM, MYO10, and WASF3 were identified and their associated-ceRNA modules were significantly associated with prognosis, which contained 3 lncRNAs (lncRNA LINC00665, lncRNA NR2F1-AS1, and lncRNA RP11-285A1.1), 4 mRNAs (DOCK11, MCAM, MYO10, and WASF3), and 4 miRNAs (hsa-mir-143, hsa-mir-141, hsa-mir-140, and hsa-mir-3199). Meanwhile, ROC curves verified the accuracy of prediction ability of the screened ceRNA modules for prognosis of TETs. CONCLUSION Our study revealed that ceRNAs modules might exert a crucial role in the progression of TETs. The mRNA associated-ceRNA modules could effectively predict the prognosis of TETs, which might be the potential prognostic and therapeutic markers for TETs patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kegong Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University
- Key Laboratory of Myocardial Ischemia, Ministry of Education, Harbin Medical University
| | - Long Bai
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University
- Key Laboratory of Myocardial Ischemia, Ministry of Education, Harbin Medical University
- Department of Chest Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Ji
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin Institute of Technology
| | - Libo Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang
| | - Guanghua Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang
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Zeng H, Yang W, Xu B, Zou J, Su C, Zhong B, Zhu H, Chen Z. Relationship of possible biomarkers with malignancy of thymic tumors: a meta-analysis. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:928. [PMID: 32993581 PMCID: PMC7523049 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07332-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Role of biomarkers for promotion of tumor proliferation (BPTPs) and for promotion of apoptosis (BPAs) in thymic malignant tumors is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between BPTPs and/or BPAs and malignancy of thymic malignant tumors. Methods Studies on thymic malignant tumors and biomarkers were searched in PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Embase databases, and all statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager. Results Twelve articles related to biomarkers and thymic malignant tumors were selected and analyzed. A relationship between BPAs and Masaoka stage was demonstrated for four markers, namely Bax, p73, Casp-9 and Bcl-2, included 138 stage I/II patients and 74 stage III/IV patients, and BPAs were significantly correlated with high Masaoka staging (P = 0.03). We further found a relationship between BPAs and degree of malignancy for four markers, namely Bax, p73, Casp-9 and Bcl-2, included 176 thymoma patients and 36 thymic carcinoma patients, and BPAs were significantly correlated with thymic carcinoma (P = 0.010). In addition, a relationship between BPTP and Masaoka staging was demonstrated for seven markers, namely Podoplanin, Glut-1, Muc-1, Egfr, Igf1r, c-Jun, and n-Ras, included 373 patients with stage I/II and 212 patients with stage III/IV, and BPTPs were significantly correlated with high Masaoka staging (P < 0.001). We also found a relationship between BPTPs and degree of malignancy for ten markers, namely Mesothelin, c-Kit (CD117), Egfr, Lat-1, Muc-1,Ema, Glut-1, Igf1r, c-Jun, and n-Ras, included 748 thymoma patients and 280 thymic carcinoma patients, and BPTPs were significantly correlated with thymic carcinoma (P < 0.001). Conclusion These findings show that high levels of BPTPs or BPAs are more closely related to thymic carcinoma and Masaoka stage III/IV, suggesting that BPTPs and BPAs may play an important role in the occurrence and development of thymic malignant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilan Zeng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of East Division, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, No. 58, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Weilin Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of East Division, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, No. 58, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Bo Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of East Division, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, No. 58, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Jianyong Zou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Chunhua Su
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Beilong Zhong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, P. R. China
| | - Haoshuai Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Zhenguang Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of East Division, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, No. 58, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China. .,Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China. .,Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, P. R. China.
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Jeong JH, Pyo JS, Kim NY, Kang DW. Diagnostic Roles of Immunohistochemistry in Thymic Tumors: Differentiation between Thymic Carcinoma and Thymoma. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:E460. [PMID: 32640732 PMCID: PMC7399973 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10070460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The present study aims to evaluate the diagnostic roles of various immunohistochemical (IHC) markers in thymic tumors, including thymic carcinoma (TC) and thymoma (TM). Methods: Eligible studies were obtained by searching the PubMed databases and screening the searched articles. Thirty-eight articles were used in the present meta-analysis and included 636 TCs and 1861 TMs. Besides, for IHC markers with statistical significance, a diagnostic test accuracy review was performed. Results: The comparison of various IHC expressions between TC and TM was performed for 32 IHC markers. Among these IHC markers, there were significant differences between TC and TM for beta-5t, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), calretinin, CD1a, CD5, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin19 (CK19), CD117, glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1), insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), mesothelin, MOC31, mucin1 (MUC1), p21, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). Markers with higher expressions in TCs were Bcl-2, calretinin, CD5, CEA, CD117, Glut-1, IGF-1R, mesothelin, MOC31, MUC1, and p21. Among these markers, there were no significant differences between TC and TM type B3 in immunohistochemistries for Bcl-2 and CK19. On the other hand, β-catenin and CD205 showed a considerable difference in IHC expressions between TC and TM type B3, but not between TC and overall TM. In diagnostic test accuracy review, MUC1 and beta-5t were the most useful markers for TC and TM, respectively. Conclusions: Taken together, our results showed that the expression rates for various IHC markers significantly differed between TC and TM. The IHC panel can be useful for differentiation from limited biopsied specimens in daily practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Han Jeong
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chosun University Hospital, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju 61453, Korea;
| | - Jung-Soo Pyo
- Department of Pathology, Daejeon Eulji University Hospial, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Korea;
| | - Nae-Yu Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Korea;
| | - Dong-Wook Kang
- Department of Pathology, Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital, 20 Bodeum 7-ro, Sejong 30099, Korea
- Department of Pathology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, 266 Munhwa Street, Daejeon 35015, Korea
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High expression level of SOX2 is significantly associated with shorter survival in patients with thymic epithelial tumors. Lung Cancer 2019; 132:9-16. [PMID: 31097100 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2019.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Thymic epithelial tumors (TET) are heterogenous tumors which are composed of thymoma (TM) and thymic carcinoma (TC). We attempted to determine differences in gene expression between TM and TC, and to determine the effect of such genes on the prognosis of patients with TET. MATERIALS AND METHODS Gene expression profiles of SOX2, OCT-4, IGF-1, IGF-1R and IR mRNA transcripts in tumor tissues of TM and TC were determined using real-time PCR (RT-PCR). We constructed tissue microarray with 140 paraffin-embedded tumor tissues and performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) for IGF-1R-related signaling molecules, including SOX2, IGF-1, IGF-1R and pAKT. RESULTS SOX2 mRNA expression was notably higher (216-fold) in TCs than in TMs. However, there was no significant difference in expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R, OCT-4 or IR between the two tumor types. In IHC results, SOX2 (HR: 7.57, P = 0.001) and IGF-1 (HR: 9.43, P = 0.001) expression levels in TC were significantly higher than those in TM. There was a significant correlation in expression of SOX2 with IGF-1 (P = 0.021) and pAKT (P = 0.026). In univariate analysis, clinical TNM stage, WHO classification, serum LDH, expression of SOX2, IGF-1R, IGF-1 and pAKT, were significantly correlated with overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis using a forward-selection procedure revealed that clinical N stage (HR: 4.08, P < 0.001), M stage (HR: 3.37, P = 0.001) and SOX2 expression (HR: 4.53, P = 0.010) were significantly associated with OS. CONCLUSIONS SOX2 is expressed significantly higher in TC than in TM. SOX2 expression is also closely related to IGF-1 and pAKT expression. The higher expression of SOX2 is significantly associated with shorter survival in patients with TET.
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Maeda S, Nakazato Y, Hayashi K, Nishihira M, Inoue T, Araki O, Karube Y, Kobayashi S, Chida M. L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 Immunoreactivity as a Possible Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker of Thymic Carcinoma. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2018; 246:167-174. [PMID: 30449824 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.246.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) functions to transport large neutral amino acids, such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, methionine, and histidine. These amino acids are essential for cell growth and proliferation. Many studies have demonstrated LAT1 expression in various types of cancer, and its high expression level was associated with poor prognosis. However, the significance of LAT1 expression in thymic epithelial tumors is controversial. We conducted this retrospective study to investigate the LAT1 immunoreactivity in thymic epithelial tumors and its impact on prognosis. We analyzed 32 patients with thymoma and 14 patients with thymic carcinoma who underwent surgery at our institute. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical tissues and an anti-LAT1 polyclonal antibody. We thus found that LAT1 immunoreactivity was undetectable in all of the thymoma specimens, regardless of the subtypes of thymoma. By contrast, LAT1 immunoreactivity was consistently detected in the cytosol of thymic carcinoma cells; namely, all 14 thymic carcinoma specimens demonstrated LAT1 immunoreactivity in the cytosol. Among these 14 thymic carcinoma specimens, four carcinoma specimens also showed LAT1 immunoreactivity in the cell membrane. Survival analysis indicated that the thymic carcinoma with the LAT1 membrane signal was associated with poor prognosis, compared with the specimens with the LAT1 cytosol signal. We therefore propose that LAT1 is expressed in the cytosol of thymic carcinoma cells, which could be a diagnostic marker of thymic carcinoma. Moreover, LAT1 expression in the cell membrane is a prognostic marker of thymic carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumiko Maeda
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University
| | | | - Keitaro Hayashi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dokkyo Medical University
| | | | - Takashi Inoue
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University
| | - Osamu Araki
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University
| | - Yoko Karube
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University
| | - Satoru Kobayashi
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University
| | - Masayuki Chida
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University
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Khandelwal A, Sholl LM, Araki T, Ramaiya NH, Hatabu H, Nishino M. Patterns of metastasis and recurrence in thymic epithelial tumours: longitudinal imaging review in correlation with histological subtypes. Clin Radiol 2016; 71:1010-1017. [PMID: 27267746 DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2016.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
AIM To determine the patterns of metastasis and recurrence in thymic epithelial tumours based on longitudinal imaging studies, and to correlate the patterns with World Health Organization (WHO) histological classifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-seven patients with histopathologically confirmed thymomas (n=62) and thymic carcinomas (n=15) who were followed with cross-sectional follow-up imaging after surgery were retrospectively studied. All cross-sectional imaging studies during the disease course were reviewed to identify metastasis or recurrence. The sites of involvement and the time of involvement measured from surgery were recorded. RESULTS Metastasis or recurrence was noted in 24 (31%) of the 77 patients. Patients with metastasis or recurrence were significantly younger than those without (median age: 46 versus 60, respectively; p=0.0005), and more commonly had thymic carcinomas than thymomas (p=0.002). The most common site of involvement was the pleura (17/24), followed by the lung (9/24), and thoracic nodes (9/24). Abdominopelvic involvement was noted in 12 patients, most frequently in the liver (n=8). Lung metastasis was more common in thymic carcinomas than thymomas (p=0.0005). Time from surgery to the development of metastasis or recurrence was shortest in thymic carcinoma, followed by high-risk thymomas, and was longest in low-risk thymoma (median time in months: 25.1, 68.8, and not reached, respectively; p=0.0015). CONCLUSIONS The patterns of metastasis and recurrence of thymic epithelial tumours differ significantly across histological subgroups, with thymic carcinomas more commonly having metastasis with shorter length of time after surgery. The knowledge of different patterns of tumour spread may contribute to further understanding of the biological and clinical behaviours of these tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Khandelwal
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - L M Sholl
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - T Araki
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - N H Ramaiya
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - H Hatabu
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - M Nishino
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Kossai M, Duchemann B, Boutros C, Caramella C, Hollebecque A, Angevin E, Gazzah A, Bahleda R, Ileana E, Massard C, Vielh P, Soria J, Besse B. Antitumor activity in advanced cancer patients with thymic malignancies enrolled in early clinical drug development programs (Phase I trials) at Gustave Roussy. Lung Cancer 2015; 89:306-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2015] [Revised: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Omatsu M, Kunimura T, Mikogami T, Shiokawa A, Masunaga A, Nagai T, Kitami A, Suzuki T, Kadokura M. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p16 and p27, demonstrate different expression patterns in thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2014; 62:678-84. [PMID: 24938902 DOI: 10.1007/s11748-014-0437-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The role of cell cycle inhibitors in tumorigenesis has been proven in various neoplasms; however, their roles in thymic tumors are still unclear. We examined the expression of cell cycle inhibitors such as those of the Cip/Kip family (p21, p27, and p57) and the INK-4/ARF family (p16 and p14) in thymoma and thymic carcinoma. METHODS Samples from 41 thymoma and 14 thymic carcinoma patients, and 34 normal thymic tissue samples were prepared for the study. Immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies to p21, p27, p57, p16, and p14 was carried out, and the positivity for these inhibitors in each group was estimated in terms of their subcellular location and percentage of cells showing positive staining. RESULTS Nuclear p27 showed a stepwise decrease (p < 0.0001), and the cytoplasmic p27 showed a stepwise increase (p < 0.0001) in expression level with the increase in malignancy. p16 in both the nucleus and cytoplasm showed a stepwise increase (p < 0.0001) in expression level with the increase in malignancy. However, as for p21, p57, and p14, there was almost no nuclear or cytoplasmic expression in each group. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that low nuclear and high cytoplasmic p27 expression levels, and high nuclear and cytoplasmic p16 expression levels may correlate with the increase in thymic malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutsuko Omatsu
- Department of Clinico-diagnostic Pathology, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, 35-1 Chigasaki-chuo, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama, 224-8503, Japan,
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Moser B, Janik S, Schiefer AI, Müllauer L, Bekos C, Scharrer A, Mildner M, Rényi-Vámos F, Klepetko W, Ankersmit HJ. Expression of RAGE and HMGB1 in thymic epithelial tumors, thymic hyperplasia and regular thymic morphology. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94118. [PMID: 24705787 PMCID: PMC3976415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, a role of the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) in myasthenia gravis was described. RAGE and its ligand high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) play key roles in autoimmunity and cancer. To test whether these molecules are involved in patients with thymic abnormalities we applied immunohistochemical analysis in 33 cases of thymic epithelial tumors, comprising 27 thymomas and 6 thymic carcinomas, and 21 nonneoplastic thymuses. Both molecules were detected in neoplastic epithelial cells: RAGE staining was most intense in WHO type B2 thymomas and thymic carcinomas (p<0.001). HMGB1 nuclear staining was strongest in A and AB, and gradually less in B1 = B2>B3>thymic carcinoma (p<0.001). Conversely, HMGB1 cytoplasmic staining intensities were as follows: A and AB (none), B1 (strong), B2 (moderate), B3 and thymic carcinoma (weak); (p<0.001). Fetal thymic tissue showed a distinct expression of RAGE and HMGB1 in subcapsular cortical epithelial cells which was found in 50% of myasthenic patients. Furthermore RAGE and HMGB1 were expressed in thymocytes, macrophages, Hassall's corpuscles, thymic medulla, and germinal center cells in myasthenic patients. Immunohistochemistry results were complemented by systemic measurements (immunosorbent assay): serum levels of soluble RAGE were significantly reduced in patients with epithelial tumors (p = 0.008); and in invasive tumors (p = 0.008). Whereas RAGE was equally reduced in thymic hyperplasia and epithelial tumors (p = 0.003), HMGB1 was only elevated in malignancies (p = 0.036). Results were most pronounced in thymic carcinomas. Thus, RAGE and HMGB1 are involved in the (patho-)physiology of thymus, as evidenced by differentiated thymic and systemic expression patterns that may act as diagnostic or therapeutic targets in autoimmune disease and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Moser
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Stefan Janik
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Christine Bekos
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Regeneration of Cardiac and Thoracic Diseases, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anke Scharrer
- Department of Pathology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Mildner
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ferenc Rényi-Vámos
- Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Walter Klepetko
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hendrik Jan Ankersmit
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Division of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Regeneration of Cardiac and Thoracic Diseases, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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