Expression of Notch-2 mRNA and Protein in Papillary Thyroid Cancers

Objective To study the Notch-2 mRNA and its protein expression in papillary thyroid cancer and to analyze the clinical biological significance. Methods RT-PCR technology and immunofluorescence and Western-blot in exactly the same experimental conditions,were used to detect human thyroid papillary carcinoma tissues, comparing with normal thyroid tissues. Results In RT-PCR in thyroid papillary cancer tissues,the expression of Notch-2 mRNA were significantly weaker than that in normal thyroid tissue (P0.05); In immunofluorescence Notch-2 in thyroid carcinoma and normal thyroid tissue were expressed, but in thyroid cancer tissue it was weakerly expressed than in normal thyroid tissue。Western-blot method showed Notch-2 protein in papillary thyroid carcinoma was lower than in normal thyroid tissue。Notch-2 gene and protein expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma and normal thyroid tissue showed statistically significant differences (P 0.05). Conclusion In papillary thyroid carcinoma, Notch-2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels were low key. Notch-2 pathway has been generally suppressed the gene in thyroid cancer, since the development of tumor suppressor role.