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Updated: Jun 18, 2025

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Published on: February 3, 2023
Expression of integrin αvβ3 in medullary thyroid carcinoma
Lisa H de Vries1, Lutske Lodewijk1, Emma W Pijnappel2
1Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Aim: Tumor markers often remain elevated after intended curative resection of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The aim of this study was to determine the expression of αvβ3, a promising theranostics target, in MTC and its metastases.Materials & methods: Avβ3 expression was analyzed in 104 patients using a tissue microarray and correlated with clinicopathological variables and survival.Results: Cytoplasmic αvβ3 positivity was seen in 70 patients and was associated with lymph node metastases at time of initial surgery. Membranous positivity was considered positive in 30 patients and was associated with sporadic MTC.Conclusion: Avβ3 was expressed in the cytoplasm of 67% of MTC patients. Membranous expression, which is presumably most relevant for the theranostic use of αvβ3, was seen in 29%.
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