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Updated: Feb 10, 2026
An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: April 17, 2013
High expression of CD10 in anaplastic thyroid carcinomas
Tadao Nakazawa1, Tetsuo Kondo1, Huy Gia Vuong1
1Department of Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
Aims:
CD10 is an endopeptidase that degrades various bioactive peptides in the extracellular matrix. In addition to enzymatic degradation, it affects multiple intracellular signal transduction pathways. CD10 expression has been extensively studied in human epithelial cancers of numerous organs and sites. However, its presence in thyroid carcinomas, especially in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), has not been fully determined. An actual CD10 expression in thyroid lesions including a large series of ATC was evaluated.
Methods And Results:
We examined CD10 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 152 thyroid lesions: nine adenomatous goitres (AGs) and 143 tumours, including 47 anaplastic carcinomas. IHC showed diffuse and strong positivity for CD10 in the epithelial components of almost all ATCs. However, epithelia with squamous metaplasia and oncocytic change from AGs, follicular adenomas and differentiated carcinomas had focal CD10 reactivity. Some papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), along with the PTC components of some ATCs, showed CD10 positivity in fibroblast-like stromal cells and fibrous material.
Conclusion:
Our results imply that the CD10 expression pattern depended on the histotypes of thyroid lesions. When possible metastatic tumours and non-epithelial tumours are excluded, high CD10 expression may be useful in determining whether a primary thyroid carcinoma includes an anaplastic component.
Insights
High CD10 expression is prevalent in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC). This finding may help identify primary thyroid cancers with an anaplastic component, excluding metastatic or non-epithelial tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- CD10 is an endopeptidase involved in extracellular matrix degradation and intracellular signaling.
- CD10 expression is well-documented in various epithelial cancers.
- Its role in thyroid carcinomas, particularly anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate CD10 expression in a diverse range of thyroid lesions.
- To specifically assess CD10 presence in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC).
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to examine CD10.
- 152 thyroid lesions were analyzed, including 47 anaplastic carcinomas, 9 adenomatous goitres, and other tumors.
Main Results:
- Nearly all anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATCs) exhibited strong, diffuse CD10 positivity in their epithelial components.
- Focal CD10 reactivity was observed in epithelia with squamous metaplasia or oncocytic changes in other thyroid lesions.
- Fibroblast-like stromal cells and fibrous material in some papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) and ATC components showed CD10 positivity.
Conclusions:
- CD10 expression patterns vary significantly across different thyroid histotypes.
- Elevated CD10 expression may serve as a diagnostic marker for identifying anaplastic components in primary thyroid carcinomas, provided metastatic and non-epithelial tumors are ruled out.
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