Runx2 mRNA expression in the tissue, serum, and circulating non-hematopoietic cells of patients with thyroid cancer

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Jul;97(7):E1249-56. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-2624. Epub 2012 Apr 17.

Abstract

Context: Runx2, a master gene of osteogenic differentiation, is also expressed in nonosseous cancer cells. Microcalcifications are characteristic of papillary thyroid carcinoma and represent a useful find for diagnosis. However, the molecular expression of osteogenic differentiation transcription factor Runx2 has been poorly investigated in this tumor.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate Runx2 mRNA expression in normal and pathological thyroid tissue, serum, and circulating non-hematopoietic cells.

Setting: The study was performed in the Endocrine Unit of Internal Medicine of "Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona" (Verona, Italy).

Patients: We enrolled 12 patients with a papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), who had undergone total thyroidectomy performed by the same surgeon. The results, obtained by real-time RT-PCR, were compared with biological samples obtained from 13 sex- and age-matched normal donors.

Results: Our data demonstrated that Runx2 mRNA is overexpressed (7.81-fold expression) in pathological thyroid tissue than in normal tissue (P < 0.05). Runx2 mRNA overexpression was also observed in serum and circulating non-hematopoietic cells of PTC patients with respect to normal donors (5.91-fold expression, P < 0.001; 3.82-fold expression, P < 0.05, respectively). We also observed that patients with microcalcifications expressed significantly higher levels of Runx2 mRNA in serum with respect to patients without microcalcifications (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study can open up new research perspectives in the diagnosis and follow-up of PTC, even if further and larger cohort studies will be necessary to validate the Runx2 expression as biomarkers in thyroid cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Blood Cells / metabolism
  • Calcinosis / complications
  • Calcinosis / genetics
  • Calcinosis / metabolism
  • Carcinoma
  • Carcinoma, Papillary
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / blood
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / genetics*
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation, Missense / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / blood
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / blood*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / complications
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RUNX2 protein, human
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf