ATRA increases iodine uptake and inhibits the proliferation and invasiveness of human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma SW1736 cells: Involvement of β-catenin phosphorylation inhibition.

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) can enhance iodine uptake capability of thyroid tumors, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ATRA on isotope susceptibility, proliferation and invasion of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and potential mechanisms. SW1736 cells were treated with 1 µmol/l ATRA or 1% ethanol for 5 days.

Inhibiting β-catenin expression promotes efficiency of radioiodine treatment in aggressive follicular thyroid cancer cells probably through mediating NIS localization.

The present study investigated whether the efficacy of radioiodine therapy towards aggressive thyroid cancer cells was affected by β-catenin activity and associated with sodium/iodine symporter (NIS) localization. Human thyroid cancer cell line follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) 133 was endowed with aggressiveness by HIF-1α or β-catenin overexpression. The protein amount and subcellular localization of NIS, and the radioiodine uptake capacity were detected in the cells, as well as in cells subsequently undergoing β-catenin knockdown.