Pallante P et al. (2005) UbcH10 overexpression may represent a marker of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. Br J Cancer 93: 464–471

The discovery of a 150-fold upregulation of the UbcH10 gene in human thyroid carcinoma cell lines of varying histotype was the focus of a recent analysis by Pallante et al., published in the British Journal of Cancer. The group investigated the role of UbcH10 in thyroid carcinogenesis and proposed that the UbcH10 protein might represent a novel tumor marker and a therapeutic target in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to determine whether UbcH10 overexpression was found in thyroid tumors as well as in cultured thyroid carcinoma cell lines. The highest levels of UbcH10 were found in anaplastic carcinomas (median positive cells 45.8%) with noticeable levels in poorly differentiated, follicular and papillary carcinomas, and weak expression in follicular adenomas. Normal thyroid, nodular goiter and Hashimoto's thyroiditis were negative for UbcH10. These results were confirmed by analysis of mouse tumor experimental models. The researchers also found a significant correlation (P <0.001) between UbcH10 and tissue proliferation, using the proliferation marker Ki-67. Furthermore, suppression of UbcH10 protein synthesis in two thyroid carcinoma cell lines resulted in significant inhibition of cell growth.

The authors concluded that abundant UbcH10 is a feature of the aggressive anaplastic thyroid carcinoma histotype, and that suppression of HbcH10 synthesis or function could form the basis of future therapies.