Prognostic significance of APOE and FOXP3 immunohistochemical expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma and concomitant Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Abdelgeleel, Heba Mahmoud; Qasem, Ebtisam R; Matar, Ihab; Elnossiry, Adel A; Adel  Abdelrahman, Essam; Elaidy, Noha F

doi:10.21608/zumj.2025.321083.3602

Prognostic significance of APOE and FOXP3 immunohistochemical expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma and concomitant Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ pathology department , faculty of medicine, Zagazig university

² clinical oncology department , faculty of medicine ,zagazig university hospitals

³ Surgical Oncology Department, Ismailia Teaching Oncology Hospital.

⁴ surgical oncology depart.faculty of medicine Zagazig university

⁵ Internal Medicine-faculty of medicine Zagazig University

⁶ Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

10.21608/zumj.2025.321083.3602

Abstract

Background: APOE is involved in immunological control mediated by lymphocytes. The biological processes of several malignant tumors were accelerated by its overexpression. APOE reduces antigen-activated lymphocytes, which has an impact on immunity. Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a subset of T helper (CD4+) cells, which are essential to the immune system because they counteract the actions of T cells to decrease autoimmune reactions. For this regulation, the transcription factor forkhead box (FOXP3) is crucial. Due to their involvement in the onset and progression of PTC, APOE and FOXP3 may be utilized in molecularly targeted treatments. Immunocheck-point inhibitors are essential to support novel immunotherapy approaches in treatment and increase the prognosis of PTC linked with HT since both indicators have significant immunoregulatory processes.

Aim of study: Exploring the effect of APOE and FOXP3 on PTC prognosis and its clinical outcome, which could help in novel treatments development against PTC.

Patients and Methods: 46 tissue blocks were obtained retrospectively spanning the period between May 2018 to May 2023. These sections are then exposed to all steps of IHC technique for staining of APOE and FOXP3

Results: Positive APOE and FOXP3 expression was significantly correlated with poor clinical parameters.

Conclusion: Increased tissue expression of novel immunomarkers APOE and FOXP3 are associated with poor clinical outcome which predicted the possibility of using these markers as targeted therapy in combination with the ordinary used therapies for improving the prognosis of PTC with associated HT.

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