Abstract: To study the role of insulinlike growth factor1 and insulinlike growth factor1 receptor (IGF1/IGF1R) in the carcinogenesis of thyroid papillary carcinoma. Methods: The mRNA levels of IGF1/IGF1R were assessed by RT PCR method in thyroid cancer tissues, adjacent tissues and tumor free tissues of 62 patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma and in normal thyroid tissues of 15 healthy controls. Tissue specimens were obtained by biopsy, and confirmed by histological evaluation. Results: The mRNA levels of IGF1/IGF1R increased in thyroid carcinoma tissues compared with normal tissues of healthy controls (P＜0.01). There was a significant difference between thyroid cancer tissues and the tumor free tissues (P＜0.01). The mRNA levels of IGF1/IGF1R increased from the tumor free tissues, adjacent tissues to the thyroid cancer tissues (P＜0.01). Conclusions: The high expression of IGF1/IGF1R acts greatly in the carcinogenesis and development of thyroid papillary carcinoma, and they might be used as indicators for early diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma.

Key words: Thyroid neoplasms, Insulinlike growth factor1, Receptor, insulinlike growth factor