Low metallothionein 1M (MT1M) is associated with thyroid cancer cell lines progression

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common malignancy of the thyroid carcinoma, despite ongoing advances, novel biomarkers are required for prognosis and diagnosis of PTC. Our previous research found that metallothionein 1M (MT1M) was a novel potential PTC associated gene in thyroid cancer. In the present study, the expression status and prognostic value of MT1M expression were investigated in thyroid cancer. Tissue samples from 60 patients with PTC were subjected to the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and the relative expression of MT1M in the patient tissue was evaluated. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-seq database was downloaded to further explore the role of MT1M in PTC and its relationship with lymph node metastasis (LNM). Logistic analysis showed that reduced expression of MT1M, histological type, and clinical stage are independent high-risk factors for LNM in PTC. The biological function of MT1M was also researched by using the PTC cell lines TPC-1, KTC1 and BCPAP. In vitro experiments revealed that MT1M upregulation significantly inhibits the colony formation, proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC cell lines. We also found that MT1M could modulate the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin. These results implied that MT1M involved in the progress of thyroid cancer and might act as a tumor suppressor gene. In this study, we identified, for the first time, MT1M was involved in thyroid carcinoma cell lines This study specified a potential new marker and a target for gene therapy in thyroid cancer treatment.