Assessment Of Plasma B-Catenin Concentration As Biomarker Of Thyroid Cancer*

摘要

New diagnostic methods for thyroid diseases are still being searched for. Immunohistochemical diagnosis is expanded by the introduction of new biomarkers including ?-catenin (B-Cat). Associations are indicated between the cellular expression of this biomarker and tumor stage, nodal metastases and the degree of tumor cell differentiation. Reports are scarce regarding the plasma level of this biomarker in malignant neoplastic diseases.The aim of the study was to analyze the plasma B-Cat concentration and the possibility of it use in the diagnostics of patients with nodular goiter and papillary thyroid carcinoma.Material and methods. Plasma B-Cat concentration was determined in 64 patients with goiter and 15 healthy volunteers. The final histopathological examination revealed 41 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and 13 cases of nodular goiter (NG).Results. A significant increase in B-Cat (p 0.05) in both groups compared to the control group. No differences in the concentrations of biomarker was demonstrated between the PTC and NG groups. After determining the AUC for the tested biomarker, the B-Cat ratio of the area value 0.721 was the strong diagnostic test.Conclusions. Changes in the plasma B-Cat concentration can be the biomarker of thyroid cancer but it cannot be used for the detection of papillary thyroid carcinoma becouse of concomitant tumor-like lesions in the thyroid gland.