Angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin 2 (Ang-2) and Tie-2 (a receptor tyrosine kinase) concentrations in peripheral blood of patients with thyroid cancers

Cytokine. 2006 Dec;36(5-6):291-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2007.02.008. Epub 2007 Mar 19.

Abstract

There are limited and conflicting studies investigating the role of the angiopoietin family in human thyroid cancer development and progression. We have investigated cytokines angiopoietin-1, -2 and their receptor (Tie-2), known to be involved in angiogenesis, in the serum of 52 thyroid cancer patients (21 cases of papillary cancers, PTC; 8 follicular cancers, FTC; 12 medullary cancers, MTC and 11 anaplastic cancers, ATC), using ELISA assays. The control consisted of 27 healthy volunteers. Statistically significant lower concentrations of Ang-1 were found in patients with thyroid cancers as compared with the control (p<0.003). The levels of Ang-2 and Tie-2 did not differ significantly between thyroid cancer patients and control. We have also compared the results of Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 determinations obtained in different histopathological subgroups of cancer patients. These results revealed lower Ang-1 concentrations in ATC (p<0.05), MTC (p<0.02), FTC (p<0.01) and in PTC patients (p<0.05) than control. We have also observed lower Ang-2 concentration in PTC patients (p<0.03) and Tie-2 in FTC patients (p<0.02 ) in comparison to controls. In conclusion, the Angs/Tie-2 system dysfunction may play an important role in thyroid cancerogenesis and decreased concentration of Ang-1 in serum can be a useful additional biomarker for the presence of thyroid cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Angiopoietin-1 / blood*
  • Angiopoietin-2 / blood*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptor, TIE-2 / blood*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / blood
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Angiopoietin-1
  • Angiopoietin-2
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptor, TIE-2