Signification of forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) expression in thyroid cancers

Abstract

Abstract Background Forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) plays an important role in several tumors. This study investigated the potential role of FOXA1 expression in thyroid tumors. We conducted a retrospective study of 110 thyroid lesions and tumors diagnosed during 1995–2018. The expression of FOXA1 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry on archival material. Results No FOXA1 immunostaining was observed in all cases of Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s disease, multi-nodular goiter, and adenoma. FOXA1 expression was absent as well in all papillary and follicular carcinomas, Hurthle cell carcinoma, and undifferentiated sarcoma. Only three anaplastic carcinomas exhibited focally FOXA1 staining. However, FOXA1 was expressed in all medullary carcinomas. No significant correlation was found with all clinicopathological features (p > 0.05 for all). The pattern of FOXA1 staining was similar to that of calcitonin and chromogranin A (p = 0.04 and p = 0.003, respectively). Conclusions FOXA1 is expressed mostly in all medullary thyroid carcinomas. Hence, FOXA1 could serve as an additional marker for refining the diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Keywords

• Cancer
• Thyroid
• FOXA1
• C cell
• Diagnosis