Selemetjev, Sonja (24463032600)Sonja (24463032600)SelemetjevSavin, Svetlana (35568292500)Svetlana (35568292500)SavinPaunovic, Ivan (55990696700)Ivan (55990696700)PaunovicTatic, Svetislav (6701763955)Svetislav (6701763955)TaticCvejic, Dubravka (7003808274)Dubravka (7003808274)Cvejic2025-06-122025-06-122018https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1482.163675https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85044674939&doi=10.4103%2f0973-1482.163675&partnerID=40&md5=49349bdf940bd530f5e20615bc381f6chttps://remedy.med.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6550Purpose: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has a strong propensity to metastasize to regional lymph nodes which increases the risk of local-regional relapse and affects the course of the disease. Molecular pathogenesis of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is not yet fully understood. Survivin, a multifunctionale molecule involved in apoptosis, proliferation and angiogenesis, and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) are suggested to be implicated in lymphatic metastases of human malignancies. Materials and Methods: Expression of survivin and VEGF-C was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot in 75 cases of PTCs in relation to their LNM status. Additionally, survivin and VEGF-C were immunohistochemically analyzed in 15 primary PTCs paired with their metastatic tissue in lymph nodes. Results: High expression of survivin and VEGF-C was found in 62.7% and 64.0% cases, respectively, with a positive correlation to each other (Spearman's correlation co-efficient = 0.878, P < 0.001). Expression levels of both proteins were significantly higher in patients with LNM than in those without LNM (P < 0.001). The rate of concomitant high expression of survivin and VEGF-C in patients with LNM involvement was 88.9% (P < 0.01). Metastatic tissue in lymph nodes expressed survivin and VEGF-C at the same high extent as their primary tumors. Conclusion: Concomitant high expression of survivin and VEGF-C is closely associated with LNM status of PTC patients, which suggests their cooperation in the metastatic process. Evaluation of survivin and VEGF-C expression could be clinically significant in predicting the metastatic potential of PTC and subsequent treatment and follow-up of these patients. © 2017 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics.Lymph node metastasispapillary thyroid carcinomasurvivinvascular endothelial growth factor-C