Multistep carcinogenesis in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report

Pathology. 2002 Feb;34(1):94-7. doi: 10.1080/00313020120105732.

Abstract

We previously established an anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell line (KOA2) that had double mutations: an N-ras mutation and a p53 gene mutation. To clarify multistep carcinogenesis, we analysed surgical material from the patient from whom KOA2 was derived for abnormalities in the N-ras and p53 genes. The resected material had two histologically different lesions: a follicular neoplasm and an anaplastic carcinoma. The N-ras mutation was observed in both lesions, but the p53 gene mutation only in the anaplastic lesion. These facts indicate that an N-ras mutation may induce follicular neoplasm and a subsequent p53 mutation may have caused the follicular neoplasm to transform to anaplastic carcinoma in this patient. This report suggests direct evidence for multistep carcinogenesis in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / surgery
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Carcinoma / surgery
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • DNA Primers / chemistry
  • DNA, Neoplasm / analysis
  • Female
  • Genes, p53 / genetics
  • Genes, ras / genetics
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / surgery
  • Oligonucleotide Probes / chemistry
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Oligonucleotide Probes