Expression of the NOB1 gene and its clinical significance in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between expression of the NIN1/RPN12 binding protein 1 homologue gene (NOB1) in papillary thyroid carcinoma tissue and clinicopathological variables. Methods Expression of NOB1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma, normal thyroid and benign thyroid tumour tissue was evaluated at the mRNA and protein levels by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Relationships between immunohistochemical scores and several clinicopathological variables were also examined. Results Expression of NOB1 mRNA and protein in papillary thyroid carcinomatissue was significantly higher than in normal thyroid tissue and benign thyroid tissue, while there was no significant difference between normal thyroid tissue and benign thyroid tumour tissue. A high level of NOB1 protein expression was associated with large tumour size and Union for International Cancer Control stage, but was not significantly correlated with sex or age. Conclusions Compared with normal thyroid and benign thyroid tumour tissue, papillary thyroid carcinomas showed higher expression of NOB1, which indicates that the expression level of the NOB1 gene in the thyroid may play a key role in the occurrence and development of papillary thyroid carcinoma.