The role of PEDF, VEGF, and NF-KB in tissue invasion and tumor angiogenesis of medullary thyroid carcinoma

In this study, the role of PEDF, VEGF, NF-Kb, Ki-67 proliferation index factors in MTC tissue progression and their relationship with tumor angiogenesis was investigated. We retrospectively analyzed 37 tissue samples archived between 01.01.2000 and 31.12.2015 in Hacettepe University Department of Pathology that were sent/removed from patients for pathology after total or subtotal thyroidectomy. Information about the clinicopathological features of the patients was obtained from the hospital's automation system. The clinicopathological features of the patients were evaluated as sporadic or hereditary, TNM staging, single or multifocal focus, recurrence or regional or distant metastasis, progression-free survival time (PFS), and appropriate pathology tissue samples were determined as Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), Ki-67 staining was compared. As a result of this comparison, a moderate negative correlation was found between VEGF expression level, and PFS (rho = - 0,407, p = 0,019) and Ki-67 proliferation index expression levels were statistically significantly correlated with features of a single or multifocal focus (p = 0.070). We also evaluated the relationship between PEDF, VEGF, NF- kB, Ki-67 proliferation index factors and tumor angiogenesis as reflected by microvessel density (MVD). To this end, we correlated the expression levels of PEDF, VEGF, NF-kB, Ki-67 staining of suitable pathology tissue samples of the patients with the results obtained from the staining with CD 31. As a result of this comparison, no statistically significant relationship was found. In conclusion, no significant relationship was found between PEDF expression levels in MTC tumor tissue and tumor angiogenesis and tissue progression. Our study is the first study in the literature to evaluate the role of PEDF in MTC tissue progression and its relationship with tumor angiogenesis and further v studies are needed to better understand the correlation between PEDF expression levels in MTC tumor tissue and tumor tissue progression and tumor angiogenesis. Keywords: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), Ki-67 proliferation index, MVD (Microvessel density), angiogenesis, invasion