Abstract
Background
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is the most common malignant tumor of the endocrine system. Our study is aimed to investigate the role of the α- and γ-Klotho genes in the development and progression of DTC.
Methods
The expression of the α- and γ-Klotho genes was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in thyroid tissues of 40 DTC patients and 40 age- and sex-matched subjects diagnosed as goiter and included as a control group. The demographic, laboratory and clinicopathological data of the subjects were reviewed to detect their association with the Klotho genes.
Results
The α-Klotho gene expression was statistically significantly lower in DTC tissues compared to goiter tissues (p < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant association between the γ-Klotho gene expression and DTC (p = 0.643). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed the diagnostic value of the α-Klotho mRNA levels, by providing an AUC of 0.954 value (95% CI = 0.910–0.999; p < 0.001). Lower α-Klotho gene expression associated significantly with higher stages of DTC (p = 0.026). Logistic regression analysis declared that low α-Klotho mRNA expression was demonstrated to be a significant predictor for the likelihood of DTC on top of goiter (p = 0.001).
Conclusions
Our study showed the role of the α-Klotho gene as a potential novel biomarker for discrimination between DTC and goiter tissues. Low α-Klotho mRNA expression was found to be a significant predictor for the likelihood of DTC on top of goiter, as well as higher stages of this tumor.