Comparison of claudin 3 and 4 immunoreactivity in malignant mesothelioma and lung adenocarcinoma

ABSTRACTCOMPARISON OF CLAUDIN 3 AND 4 IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN MALIGNANTMESOTHELIOMA AND LUNG ADENOCARCINOMAEKIZ, SuleResidency Thesis, Department of PathologySupervisor:Asst.Prof. Edız TUTARJune 2007, 53 pagesClaudins are proteins and 20 subtypes which are specificated to cellsand tissues. Different subtypes are used to define different tumours. There isonly one study about subgroups of claudins in mesothelioma the literature. Inthis study the immunoreactivity of claudin 3 and 4 in malignant mesotheliomacases and compared the results with the lung adenocarcinomas. Thus, weintended to contribute to distinctive defining of malignant mesothelioma.This study; 32 cases which had the diagnosis of malignant mesotheliomawere used. 32 cases were 25 epithelial and 7 of them were biphasic. 14 caseswhich had the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma were used as a second group.Positive immunoreactivity was fixed in 3 of the malignant mesotheliomacases which were all epithelial typed. With claudin 3, a significant differencialwas not observed between subgroups. In 11 of the adenocarcinoma cases,positive reaction was fixed.With claudin 4, immunreaction was not fixed in any of the malignmesothelioma cases. On the other hand positive immunreaction was fixed all ofthe lung adenocarcinomas with claudin 4. A significant relation was found bycomparing these in terms of claudin 4 immunreactivity.This significant differencial was claudin 3 and 4 immunoreactivity urgeon thinking these tumour designators able to be used in distinctive definition ofmalignant mesothelioma.Key words: malignant mesothelioma, lung adenocarcinoma, claudin 3 ve 4