CD56 AS IMMUNOMARKERS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PAPILLARY THYROID CARCINOMA

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant endocrine tumor. Nowadays tissue biopsy and pathological assessment are the best diagnostic modalities for thyroid lesions. Differential diagnosis between adenomas and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is an important issue in pathology. Papillary carcinoma typically stains for Thyroglobulin, TTF-1, Pan-Cytokeratin and PAX-8. An assortment of markers, such as Cytokeratin-19, HWCK, HBME-1, GAL-3, CD57, CITED-1, CD15, Fibronectin-1, CD44 and PDGF have been proposed to be of significance in the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma. Considering the above, the purpose of the study is to show CD56, a neural cell adhesion molecule can be used as immunomarkers in the diagnosis of PTC. Its expression may affect the migratory capability of tumor cells. Hence it is not surprising that loss of CD56 correlates with metastatic potentials and poor prognostic outcome in some malignancies. The thyroidectomy specimens of the 30 patients has been used and statistically analyzed in the present clinical case study. The results revealed the potential usage of CD56 expression in serving as immunomarkers in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.