[The study of the correlation of papillary thyroid carcinoma's invasion toward Ezrin and E-cadherin].

Objective: In order to assess the significance of Ezrin and E-Cadherin in invasion and metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Method: The 81 paraffin-embedded specimen PTC and normal thyroid tissues adjacent to cancer operated from 2005 to 2008 were tested. The expressions of Ezrin, E-Cadherin in the specimen were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. The correlation between the 2 factors (Ezrin, E-Cadherin) and clinical features of PTC such as gender, age, tumor size, invasion, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage were studied.

Results: The rates of immuno-positive staining Ezrin in PTC was higher than the normal thyroid tissues adjacent to cancer with significant difference respectively (chi2 = 61.691, P < 0.01). The rates of immuno-positive staining E-Cadherin in PTC was lower than the normal thyroid tissues adjacent to cancer with significant difference respectively (chi2 = 64.241, P < 0.01). The expressions of Ezrin and E-cadherin were related to age, invasion, lymph node metastasis, and TNM. There was correlation between the expressions of Ezrin and E-Cadherin in PTC (r = -0.471, P < 0.01).

Conclusion: The high expressions of Ezrin and the low expression of E-Cadherin were related to invasion and metastasis in PTC. Between the 2 factors has cooperative. Combined detection of the expression of Ezrin and E-Cadherin in PTC might served as invasion, metastasis and important prognostic predictors.