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Galectin-3 and CD44v6 as markers for preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer by RT-PCR

The aim of the study was to determine diagnostic value of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of galectin-3 and CD44v6 as markers for preoperative diagnosis of malignancy in lesions of the thyroid. RT-PCR analysis of galectin-3 and CD44v6 expression was performed on RNA isolated from fine-needle aspirates of thyroid lesions from 428 patients. The results were evaluated against the postoperative histopathological diagnosis or definitive cytological diagnosis in cases of nodular goiter and Hashimoto thyroiditis. 57 (13%) samples were inadequate for RT-PCR. Galectin-3 and CD44v6 were positive in 167 (45%) and 158 (43%) out of 371 adequate samples, respectively. Galectin-3 and CD44v6 were positive in 56 (86%) and 54 (83%) out of 65 papillary carcinomas, 16 (29%) and 18 (32%) out of 56 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, 61 (34%) and 52 (29%) out of 181 nodular goiters, 23 (43%) and 23 (43%) out of 53 follicular adenomas, 3 (100%) and 3 (100%) out of 3 follicular carcinomas, and 8 (62%) and 8 (62%) out of 13 Hurthle cell adenomas, respectively. Specificity, sensitivity, positive, and negative predictive value in discriminating between malignant and benign thyroid nodules were 64, 87, 35, and 96% for galectin-3 ; 67, 84, 36, and 95% for CD44v6 ; and 79, 82, 47, and 95% for the analysis of both markers (considered positive only if both galectin-3 and CD44v6 were positive), respectively. Due to relatively low specificity, clinical value of galectin-3 and CD44v6 analysis by RT-PCR as a marker for preoperative diagnosis of malignancy in thyroid lesions is limited.

thyroid neoplasms; thyroid nodule; biological tumor markers; fine-needle biopsy; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; galectin-3; CD44v6 antigen

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