Basal STAT3 activities are negatively correlated with tumor size in papillary thyroid carcinomas

W. G. Kim, H. J. Choi, W. B. Kim, E. Y. Kim, J. H. Yim, T. Y. Kim, G. Gong, S. Y. Kim, N. Chung, Y. K. Shong

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    19 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Backgrounds: Signal transducer and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3) plays a critical role in promoting survival and cell growth as well as facilitating angiogenesis and metastasis in several cancers. Aim: This investigation focused on evaluation of STAT3 activities in human papillary thyroid cancers (PTC). Methods: STAT3 activities of nuclear extracts of tumor tissue were measured from 35 PTC patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based kits. Results: STAT3 activities of PTC tissues were significantly lower than those of surrounding normal thyroid tissues [0.36 (interquartile range 0.24-0.72) vs 0.50 (0.29-1.11) arbitrary units, p<0.01]. We further analyzed the association between STAT3 activity and clinicopathologic factors in PTC tissue. Tumors with size ≥2 cm displayed significantly lower STAT3 activities than those <2 cm [0.25 (0.21-0.37) vs 0.53 (0.37-0.61) arbitrary units, p<0.01]. Notably, tumor size was inversely correlated with STAT3 activities in T1799A BRAF mutation-positive cases (Rs=-0.58, p<0.05), but not mutation-negative cases. Conclusions: STAT3 activities of PTC measured via DNA binding are suppressed in contrast to other human cancers. Tumor size larger than 2 cm is the only clinicopathologic parameter associated with low STAT3 activity. Moreover, tumor size appears inversely correlated with STAT3 activity, specifically in T1799A BRAF mutation-positive cases.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)413-418
    Number of pages6
    JournalJournal of Endocrinological Investigation
    Volume35
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012 Apr

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This work was supported by a Grant of the Korea Healthcare technology R&D Project, Ministry for Health, Welfare & Family Affairs, Republic of Korea (A084136).

    Keywords

    • Mutation
    • Papillary carcinoma
    • Prognosis
    • Proto-oncogene protein B-raf
    • STAT3 transcription factor
    • Thyroid neoplasm

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
    • Endocrinology

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