The Significance of Immunohistochemical Expression of Sphingosine Kinase-1 and Galectin-3 in Differentiation Between Follicular Adenoma, Non-invasive Follicular Tumor with Papillary Nuclear Features and Follicular Variant Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

doi:10.21608/secioj.2025.433332

The Significance of Immunohistochemical Expression of Sphingosine Kinase-1 and Galectin-3 in Differentiation Between Follicular Adenoma, Non-invasive Follicular Tumor with Papillary Nuclear Features and Follicular Variant Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

10.21608/secioj.2025.433332

Abstract

Background and Study Aims: This study aims to evaluate the frequency of
sphingosine kinase-1 (SPHK-1) and galectin 3 (Gal-3) immunohistochemical
(IHC) expression in noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like
nuclear features (NIFTP), follicular adenoma (FA), and follicular variant of
papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC), as well as the relationship between
SPHK-1 and Gal 3 IHC expression in these thyroid lesions.
Patients and Methods: 56 individuals underwent IHC analysis to evaluate the
expression of the SPHK-1 and Gal-3 proteins.
Results: The findings showed a significant correlation between FVPTC and
elevated expression of SPHK-1 and Gal-3 (p < 0.001 for both markers). Gal-3
expression did not vary statistically significantly between FA and NIFTP
patients (p = 0.271). The difference in the expression of SPHK-1 in FA and
NIFTP patients was statistically significant (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Our results showed that both SPHK-1 and Gal-3 expression have
diagnostic value for FVPTC. As an innovative strategy, only SPHK-1 could be
used as a diagnostic factor for NIFTP.

Keywords