Related Experiment Videos
Epidermal growth factor receptor and thyrotropin response in human thyroid tissues
A Di Carlo1, A Mariano, G Pisano
1Centro di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale del CNR, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Napoli, Italy.
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) levels varied significantly across thyroid tumors. Anaplastic carcinomas showed high EGFr and low TSH response, while medullary types had low EGFr and no TSH response.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) plays a role in cell growth and differentiation.
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) regulates thyroid function and is crucial for normal thyroid tissue activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) in various malignant thyroid tumors and tumor-like lesions.
- To examine the relationship between EGFr levels and TSH response in these thyroid tissues.
Main Methods:
- EGFr content was measured in plasma membranes from 27 malignant thyroid tumors (follicular, papillary, medullary, anaplastic carcinomas) and 30 tumor-like lesions (hyperplastic and toxic adenomatous goiters).
- Normal thyroid tissues served as controls.
- Specific EGF binding assays were performed.
Main Results:
- All thyroid plasma membranes exhibited specific EGF binding.
- Papillary carcinomas and toxic adenomas showed EGFr binding similar to normal thyroid tissue.
- Hyperplastic goiters had slightly higher EGF binding than normal tissue.
- Anaplastic carcinomas displayed the highest EGFr binding, while medullary carcinomas had the lowest.
- An inverse correlation between EGFr content and TSH response was observed in anaplastic tumors compared to tumor-like lesions.
Conclusions:
- EGFr expression varies significantly across different types of thyroid tumors.
- Medullary carcinomas show low EGFr and no TSH response.
- Anaplastic carcinomas exhibit high EGFr and a diminished TSH response, suggesting a potential link between EGFr and TSH signaling in thyroid cancer progression.