Endocrine Abstracts

The purpose of the present study was to elucidate expressions of ERβ1 and ERβ2 expression in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). ER β splicing variants expressions were examined on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded thyroid tissues from 106 PTCs and 30 nodular thyroid goiters (NTGs) by immunehistochemical methods using Elivision plus two-step system. There was significant difference in the subcellular localization of ERβ1 expression (P<0.001), but not ERβ2, between PTCs and NTGs. ERβ1 expression decreased, but ERβ2 expression in PTCs increased in PTCs, comparing with those in NTGs. ERβ1 expression in reproductive-aged female patients with PTC was lower than that in reproductive-aged male patients (P=0.017) while ERβ2 expression is just opposite (P=0.032). The reproductive-aged female PTC patients (18–45 years) with lower ERβ2 expression were more likely to have lymph node metastases (P=0.035). The patients with nuclear ERβ1 expression were less likely to have lymph node metastases and extrathyroidal extension (P=0.018 and P=0.0495, respectively). ERβ2 expression was positively correlated with Ki-67 expression in female patients (>45 years) with PTC (P=0.030). ERβ1 expression was negatively correlated with MtP53 expression in reproductive-aged female patients with PTC (P=0.028).In reproductive-aged male patients with PTC, ERβ1 expression was negatively correlated with VEGF expression (P=0.036), but ERβ2 was just opposite (P=0.044). VEGF expression was associated with the subcellular distribution of ERβ1 in PTCs (P=0.036). This is the first study to determine the expression patterns of ERβ splicing variants in various types of thyroid lesions and elucidate the importance of ERβ splicing variants in the development and progression of PTC.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This work was supported, however funding details unavailable.