P2X(7) Receptor Expression in Coexistence of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at investigating the relation of P2X(7) receptor (P2X(7)R) expression with the clinicopathological features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) coexisting with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). METHODS: We examined 170 patients (84, PTC with HT; 86, PTC without HT). P2X(7)R expression was examined by immunohistochemical methods. The staining intensity and patterns were evaluated and scored using a semi-quantitative method. RESULTS: The PTC with HT group was more likely to contain women and had less extrathyroid extension, lymph node (LN) metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, and recurrence than the PTC without HT group. Patients positive for P2X(7)R had significantly higher frequencies of lymphovascular invasion, extrathyroid extension, LN metastasis, and absence of HT. As shown by multivariate analysis, the expression of P2X(7)R was significantly higher if HT was absent and extrathyroid extension was present. In the PTC with HT group, the expression of P2X(7)R was significantly higher in patients with tumor multifocality, lymphovascular invasion, and extrathyroid extension. In the PTC without HT group, the expression of P2X(7)R was significantly higher in women and those having tumor multifocality. CONCLUSIONS: Coexistence of PTC with HT is associated with good prognostic factors, and P2X(7)R expression in PTC was correlated with poor prognostic factors and the absence of HT.