The role of cell cycle regulatory protein p53 in Follicular neoplasms of thyroid with hurthle cells

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Background:</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> The disease biology of Follicular neoplasms of thyroid with hurthle cells is poorly understood. Very few studies in literature have addressed the role of p53 in these neoplasms. The aim of the present study is to analyze the histomorphological features of Follicular neoplasms with hurthle cell change and to evaluate the role of p53 in their tumor biology.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Methods:</span></strong>32 cases of Follicular neoplasms of thyroid with focal and pure hurthle cell change over a period of 2.5 years were studied histologically and immunohistochemically using p53 antibody (Biogenex). They included 20 follicular adenomas with focal hurthle cells, 10 pure hurthle cell adenomas and 2 hurthle cell carcinomas.</p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Results:</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> All cases showed nuclear p53 positivity in hurthle cells. Muller-Hocker et al criteria was used for frequency scoring. Out of the 32 cases, 12 cases of pure hurthle cells showed score 3, Remaining 20 cases of follicular adenomas with focal hurthle cell change showed score 3 in cases with >50% hurthle cells, score 2 in cases with 20-40% hurthle cells and score 0 in cases with <10% hurthle cells.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Conclusions:</span></strong>The study showed a good correlation of p53 protein expression with tumor progression and aggressiveness. Hence this indicates that molecular alterations in p53 pathway play a role in tumor biology in Follicular neoplasms of thyroid with hurthle cell change.</p>