ENHANCED BETA-CATENIN EXPRESSION IS ASSOCIATED WITH RECURRENCE OF PAPILLARY THYROID CARCINOMA

Objective: A direct role of β-catenin 1 (β-cat) in the proliferation of human thyroid tumor cells has been identified. This study aimed to determine if there is an association between β-cat gene expression and the staging, recurrence, metastasis, and disease-free survival of papillary thyroid cancer. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from available information in the medical records and paraffin blocks of 81 of 400 patients referred to the endocrine clinic over a 10-year period. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate β-cat gene expression. Disease-free survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The 10-year survival rate in these patients was 98.25%, and disease-free survival was 48.1%. Cumulative dose of radioactive iodine that patients received was significantly and positively correlated with β-cat gene expression (r = −0.2; P = .03). Also, in patients with recurrence, β-cat gene expression was higher and statistically significant (5-fold ...