Objective: To investigate the expression of cathepsin H (CTSH) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its clinical significance.
Methods: The 50 paired specimens of PTC and adjacent thyroid tissue as well as 50 specimens of normal thyroid tissue were collected. The expressions of CTSH mRNA and protein as well as the positive expression rates of CTSH protein in these specimens were determined by qRT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. Then, the relations of CTSH protein expression with the clinicopathologic variables of PTC patients were analyzed.
Results: Both CTSH mRNA and protein expression levels as well as the positive expression rate of CTSH protein in PTC tissue were significantly higher than those in tumor adjacent tissue and normal thyroid tissue (all P<0.05), while above indexes showed no significant differences between tumor adjacent tissue and normal thyroid tissue (all P>0.05). In PTC patients, the positive expression rate of CTSH protein in cases with capsular invasion or lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than in those without capsular invasion or lymph node metastasis (both P<0.05).
Conclusion: The CTSH expression is increased in PTC tissue, and the increased CTSH expression may be closely associated with the malignant progression of PTC.