Growth factor receptors expression in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: potential markers for therapeutic stratification

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a rare and universally fatal disease. Therefore, novel biomarkers are needed as surrogate end points in triaging patients for novel selective biologic treatments. Up-regulation of several growth factor receptors has been shown to be associated with the biologic progression and response to targeted therapy several malignancies. To determine the role of growth factor receptors in the biologic stratification of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, we studied the expression of epidermal factor receptor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor A and HER-2 receptor in large cohort of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas by immunohistochemical techniques. percentage of positive cells, staining intensity and localization of staining in the component, and coexisting well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma and adjacent thyroid were evaluated for these markers. EGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptor and HER-2 were overexpressed in 58%, 16%, and 16% of anaplastic respectively. In tumors with adjacent normal thyroid parenchyma and/or carcinoma components, overexpression of all 3 markers was noted exclusively in anaplastic component. Mutational analysis of exons 18, 19, and 21 of the EGFR gene no mutations in all anaplastic carcinomas. We conclude that the expression of these (1) may play a role in a subset of thyroid tumorigenesis and anaplastic transformation and can be validated for potential use in the stratification of patients for targeted therapy. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.