Study of expression pattern of eIF4E gene as a molecular marker in thyroid cancer

Regulation of protein synthesis in the early stage of translation depends on the function of eIF4E factor especially in the form of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF4F). Overexpression of eIF4E in multiple cancer types, including malignancies of the prostate, breast, colon, lung, and the hematopoietic system is indicative of the role of this factor in tumorogenesis and promotion of the cancers. In this study we investigated the expression pattern of eIF4E as a new molecular marker in thyroid tumors and their marginal normal tissues. We used semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique to examine the expression of eIF4E in 21 papillary carcinoma tissue specimens and 14 specimens of corresponding marginal normal tissue adjacent to the malignant lesions. ß2m gene was considered as an internal control. Rate of expression of eIF4E in different groups were compared with one another by use of SPSS software and data were analyzed by one way ANOVA and t-test. Our data revealed significant expression of eIF4E in all tumor samples compared to non-tumor lesions and normal tissues (P<0.05). Moreover the expression level was notably increased in malignant tumor samples compared to marginal tissues of the tumors (P<0.05). The rate of expression was more in tumor samples than non-malignant samples. The results of this study indicated that the rate of expression of eIF4E gene is associated with kind of tumor and grade of malignancy. Also this study confirmed the role of eIF4E gene in tumor progression and development of thyroid tumors. Therefore eIF4E gene expression can be an appropriate indicator for diagnosis of tumors and can be used as a guide for grading of thyroid tumors. This prognostic and diagnostic factor can be considered as a promising therapeutic target for treatment of cancers.