Combined analysis of galectin-3 and BRAFV600E improves the accuracy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy with cytological findings suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma

Endocr Relat Cancer. 2007 Dec;14(4):1089-97. doi: 10.1677/ERC-07-0147.

Abstract

Ten to fifteen percent of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of thyroid nodules are indeterminate. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and the oncogene BRAFV600E are markers of malignancy useful to improve FNAB accuracy. The objective of this study was to determine whether the combined analysis of Gal-3 and BRAFV600E expression in thyroid aspirates could improve the diagnosis in FNAB with suspicious cytological findings. Two hundred and sixty-one surgical thyroid tissues and one hundred and forty-four thyroid aspirates were analyzed for the presence of the two markers. In surgical specimens, Gal-3 expression was present in 27.4% benign nodules, 91.9% papillary (PTC) and 75% follicular (FTC) thyroid carcinomas. BRAFV600E was not detected in 127 benign nodules, as well as in 32 FTCs, while was found in 42.9% PTC. No correlation was found between BRAF mutation and Gal-3 expression. Forty-seven consecutive FNAB suspicious for PTC were analyzed for the presence of the two markers. Of these nodules, 23 were benign at histology, 6 were positive for Gal-3, none displayed BRAFV600E, and 17 were negative for both the markers. Twenty suspicious nodules were diagnosed as PTC and four FTCs at histology. Of these 24 carcinomas, 9 resulted positive for BRAFV600E, 17 for Gal-3, and 22 for one or both the markers. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the presence of Gal-3 and/or BRAFV600E were significantly higher than those obtained for the two markers alone. Notably, the negative predictive value increased from 70.8 to 89.5%. In conclusion, the combined detection of Gal-3 and BRAFV600E improves the diagnosis in FNAB with cytological findings suspicious for PTC and finds clinical application in selected cases.

MeSH terms

  • Adenine
  • Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / pathology*
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Galectin 3 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / genetics*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Thymine
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Galectin 3
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Adenine
  • Thymine