Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: vimentin segregates at the invasive front of tumors in a murine xenograft model.

Autor: Miraglia A; Institute of Science of Food Production, C.N.R. Unit of Lecce, ISPA-CNR, 73100, Lecce, Italy., Giannotti L; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy., De Nuccio F; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy., Treglia AS; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy., Maffia M; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy., Lofrumento DD; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy., Di Jeso B; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy. bruno.dijeso@unisalento.it., Nicolardi G; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Histochemistry and cell biology [Histochem Cell Biol] 2024 Nov 18; Vol. 163 (1), pp. 6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 18.
DOI: 10.1007/s00418-024-02329-2
Abstrakt: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) ranks among the most lethal human cancers. Increased migratory and invasive capabilities are critical in malignancy and are often secondary to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, it is not clear whether the invasive behavior of ATC is associated with the presence of EMT. In this study, we used a murine xenograft model (4-week-old male BALB/c NU/NU mice) with the human anaplastic cell line, FRO. We adopted an automated, eye-independent method to reconstruct the total/subtotal area of the tumors. To probe EMT, we evaluated the immunostaining of mesenchymal/epithelial markers at the front and center of the tumors. The transplanted cells invariably gave rise to tumor masses that histologically closely replicated patient tumors. The staining with hematoxylin-eosin and immunostaining with cytokeratin 18, an epithelial marker, were similar. However, the immunostaining of cytokeratin 18 versus vimentin, a mesenchymal marker, were strikingly dissimilar, since vimentin showed a staining concentrated at the front, rapidly declining towards the center of the tumor. The overlay, after color conversion, of cytokeratin and vimentin staining showed maximal coincidence at the front, which was rapidly lost towards the center. The results show EMT signs at the front of the ATC, which are probably at the basis of its tremendous invasiveness. Moreover, methodologically, an automated "eye-independent" acquisition of the total/subtotal area of the tumors drove the selection of second, high-magnification, automated field acquisition. Future studies may extend these results along the perspective of a personalized diagnostic procedure.
Competing Interests: Declarations Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests. Research involving human participants and animals All animals received care in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources (NIH Publication N. 86–23) and with the Italian D.L. 116/92, art. 4–5.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
Databáze: MEDLINE