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Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery

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Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Tumor-related gene expression levels in thymic carcinoma and Type B3 thymoma

Authors: Yoko Karube, Satoru Kobayashi, Sumiko Maeda, Tetsu Sado, Hiromi Ishihama, Masayuki Chida

Published in: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Background

Thymic carcinoma (TC) is a rare type of malignant neoplasm that develops in the anterior mediastinum and associated with poor prognosis. Type B3 thymoma (B3) occasionally demonstrates malignant tumor characteristics, especially in the advanced stage. We investigated the expressions of tumor-related genes in resected TC and B3 specimens.

Methods

TC and B3 specimens resected from 1999 through 2012 were investigated. Tumor segments were collected from the specimens by micro-dissection to extract mRNA, then RT-PCR was performed according to Dannenberg’s tumor profile method for semi-quantitation of tumor-related gene mRNA. To compare with other types of cancer, data from lung cancer (LC) cases in our database were also examined.

Results

The gene expression levels of thymidylate synthase were significantly higher in TC and B3 as compared to LC specimens (p < 0.02), while no difference were observed between TC and B3 tumors. The ratio of folypolyglutamyl synthase (FPGS) to gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) mRNA was significantly lower in TC than in B3 (p < 0.05), with lower FPGS/GGH in those tumors related to overall survival. Also, the gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was significantly higher in TC as compared to B3 (p = 0.04), with higher VEGF gene expression in TC and B3 specimens related to overall survival of affected patients. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression was significantly higher in B3 as compared to both TC and LC specimens (p < 0.01). However, there were no EGFR gene mutations detected in any of the specimens.

Conclusions

These results indicate that elevated expressions of the tumor-related genes FPGS/GGH and VEGF are correlated with malignancy of TC and B3 tumors. Additional examinations will be necessary to investigate their chemosensitivity.

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Title: Tumor-related gene expression levels in thymic carcinoma and Type B3 thymoma
Authors: Yoko Karube
Satoru Kobayashi
Sumiko Maeda
Tetsu Sado
Hiromi Ishihama
Masayuki Chida
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1749-8090
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-016-0468-1

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Tumor-related gene expression levels in thymic carcinoma and Type B3 thymoma

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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