Expression and significance of HIF-1α,HIF-2α and MT in human papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objective:To investigate the expression of HIF-1α,HIF-2α and MT in human papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) and the association of their expression with clinicopathological indicators. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression of HIF-1α,HIF-2α and MT in 70 PTC samples. The correlations of HIF-1α,HIF-2α and MT expression with one another, and with several clinicopathological indicators were statistically analyzed. Results: In 70 PTC samples,the positive expression rates of HIF-1α,HIF-2α and MT were 52. 86%(37 /70),50. 00%(35 /70) and 44. 29%(31 /70),respectively. HIF-1α,HIF-2α and MT expression had significant correlations with cervical lymph node metastasis( P = 0. 034,P = 0. 022,and P = 0. 032,respectively). Meanwhile,HIF-1α expression had a positive correlation with HIF-2α( rs= 0. 258,P = 0. 031) and MT( rs= 0. 266,P = 0. 026). HIF-2α and MT expression were positively correlated( rs= 0. 259,P = 0. 030). Concomitant expression of any two or all of the three molecules had stronger correlation with lymph node metastasis than did each alone( P = 0. 004 for HIF-1α / HIF-2α,P = 0. 024 for HIF-1α / MT,P = 0. 029 for HIF-2α / MT,P = 0. 017 for HIF-1α / HIF-2α / MT). Conclusion: HIF-1α,HIF-2α and MT expression in PTC samples have a closely correlation,which are related to cervical lymph node metastasis. Therefore,the expression of HIF-1α, HIF-2α and MT might be used as biomarkers for cervical lymph node metastasis of PTC.