Expression of Sodium-Iodide Symporter (NIS) in Thyroid Nodules: Comparison of RT-PCR and Immunohistochemical Staining Methods

Bae, Sang Kyun; Lee, Kang Dae; Chang, Hee Kyung

Abstract

PURPOSE
The sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) expression is an important factor in determining the sensitivity of radioiodine therapy in well-differentiated thyroid cancers. Several previous studies for the expression of NIS in thyroid tissues show diverse results. To investigate whether there is difference between methods in determining the expression of NIS in thyroid tissues of patients with thyroid nodules, we measured the expression of NIS using two different methods (RT-PCR and immunoshistochemical staining) and compared the results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the expression of NIS by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and also by immunohistochemical staining using anti-NIS antibody in thyroid cancers and other benign thyroid diseases. We compared the results of each method. We included 19 papillary carcinomas, 1 follicular carcinoma, 1 medullary carcinoma, 4 adenomas and 7 nodular hyperplasias. RESULTS: By RT-PCR analysis, 10 of 19 papillary carcinomas expressed NIS, but 1 follicular cancer didn't express NIS. By immunohistochemical staining, 15 of 19 papaillary carcinomas express NIS, but 1 follicular cancer didn't express NIS. There was a significant correlation between the semiquantitative results of RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining of NIS expression. (p< 0.01) CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that the expression of NIS in thyroid cancers and other benign diseases investigated by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining correlated well each other. However, by immunohistochemical staining, more NIS expression was found.