Characterization and significance of MUC1 and c-myc expression in elderly patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

The aim of this study was to examine the expression of mucin 1 (MUC1) and c-myc and the significance thereof in elderly patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. The expression levels of MUC1 and c-myc were examined by immunohistochemical methods in 58 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, 35 with nodular goiter, and 30 subjects with normal thyroid tissue. The positive rate of MUC1 detection in papillary thyroid carcinoma was 77.6% (45/58), while it was 90.0% (9/10) in those with infiltration and 88.2% (15/17) in those with lymphatic metastasis. The positive rate of c-myc was 81.0% (47/58) in those with papillary thyroid carcinoma and 100.0% (17/17) in those with lymphatic metastasis. These results demonstrated that there were differences in MUC1 and c-myc expression in benign and papillary thyroid carcinoma and that these differences were related to thyroid cancer lymphatic metastasis.