Expression of CTGF gene in human thyroid tissues and its clinical significance

Objective:To investigate connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) mRNA and protein expression levels in thyroid tissues and analyze their relation to clinical and pathological features of thyroid cancer.Methods:This study quantified CTGF mRNA and protein expression levels in 72 pairs of thyroid papillary carcinoma,45 pairs of thyroid adenoma and 71 pairs of simple goiter and their matched thyroid tissues using real-time fluorogentic quantitative PCR(RFQ-PCR) and immunohistochemistry staining and analyze their relationship with clinicopathological parameters.Results:RFQ-PCR showed that the CTGF mRNA expression was significantly higher in 59.7%(43 of 72) thyroid papillary carcinoma tissues than that in the matched thyroid tissues;CTGF mRNA expression was significantly lower in 66.7%(30/45) thyroid adenoma and 88.7%(63/71) simple goiter tissues than that in their matched normal thyroid tissues,respectively.The result of immunohistochemical staining was consistent with that of RFQ-PCR.Logistic regression showed that female,lymph node metastasis,higher pathological grade,bigger tumor volume and elevated TSH levels were risk factors of higher expression of CTGF mRNA in thyroid papillary carcinoma;female,higher pathological grade and higher TSH level were risk factors of higher expression of CTGF protein in thyroid papillary carcinoma;both bigger tumor volume and lower FT4 level were risk factors of higher expression of CTGF mRNA and protein in thyroid adenoma.Both male,lower FT4 and TSH level were risk factors of higher expression of CTGF mRNA and protein in simple goiter.Conclusion:Over-expression of CTGF was important in the tumorigenesis and progression of thyroid cancer,and the CTGF protein might serve as a valuable target for early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer in clinic.