Filamin A and parafibromin expression in parathyroid carcinoma

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC), atypical parathyroid tumours (APT) and parathyroid adenoma (PA), all present with hypercalcemia. Diminished calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) expression is reported in PC but is rare in benign tumours. Filamin A (FLNA) binds to the CaSR and activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. FLNA is related to tumour aggressiveness in several cancers, but its role in parathyroid neoplasia is unknown.

We examined FLNA, CaSR and parafibromin expression in PCs (n = 32), APTs (n = 44) and PAs (n = 77) and investigated their potential as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers.

Tissue microarray slides were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies for FLNA, CaSR and parafibromin. Staining results were correlated with detailed clinical data.

All tumours stained positively for CaSR, with two tumours (one PC and one APT) showing diminished expression. Carcinomas were characterized by increased cytoplasmic FLNA expression compared to APTs and PAs (P = 0.004). FLNA expression was not correlated with Ki-67 proliferation index or loss of parafibromin expression. Cytoplasmic FLNA expression was also associated with higher serum calcium, PTH concentrations and male sex (P = 0.014, P = 0.017 and P = 0.049 respectively). Using a combined marker score, we found that parathyroid tumours with low FLNA expression and positive parafibromin staining were extremely likely to be benign (P < 0.001).

Cytoplasmic and membranous FLNA expression is increased in parathyroid carcinomas compared to benign tumours. A combined FLNA and parafibromin expression score shows potential as a prognostic predictor of indolent behaviour in parathyroid neoplasms.