• Clusterin Like 1 gene expression is linked to the survival of PTC patients
  • Matin Bohlooli,1 Seyed Morteza Javadi Rad,2,*
    1. MS student, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, 81746-73441, Isfahan, Iran.
    2. Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, 81746-73441, Isfahan, Iran.


  • Introduction: Well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a common form of thyroid cancer. Both environmental and genetic determinants exert an influence on the development of PTC. Although several genes linked to PTC have been studied, the precise genetic basis of PTC remains incompletely elucidated. The aim of our study was to uncover PTC-hug genes linked to PTC outcome.
  • Methods: Analysis was performed on the GSE104005dataset, which included 19 PTC tissues and 5 normal tissues adjacent to PTC tumours. Validation of data quality involved applying log2 transformation and quantile normalisation. An analysis of differential expression was conducted using the Limma program. Genes with logFC values above 1.2 and adjusted p values below 0.05 were chosen as differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Ten papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and ten normal tissues surrounding the PTC tumours were collected following thyroidectomy surgery. Total RNA extraction, complementary DNA synthesis, and RT-qPCR will be performed. The relative expressions will be examined using REST2009 analytical software. Survivability, stage, and nodal metastasis analyses were performed.
  • Results: An examination of microarray data revealed the identification of 250 DEGs. Among these genes, Clusterin Like 1 (CLUL1) had a logFC value of -2.32 (adjusted p-value of 7.98E-04). A significant impact of CLUL1 expression on reducing the likelihood of patients' survival was observed (p-value of 1.1E-02). The expression of CLUL1 was evaluated at several biological stages, revealing a median expression level of 1.90 in Stage 2 and 0.94 in Stage 4. Our analysis revealed that the expression of CLUL1 in Stages 2 and 4 had a significant association with heightened aggression (P-value of 2.24E-05). The median expression level of CLUL1 in tumours without infiltration into the regional lymph nodes (N0) was 1.48, but in tumours with metastases to the axillary lymph nodes (N1) it was 0.94. An analysis revealed a significant difference in the expression of CLUL1 between N0 and N1 tumours (P-value = 3.10E-03). Statistical analysis did not reveal any significant variation in the expression of CLUL1 between male and female patients.
  • Conclusion: The CLUL1 gene exhibited a significant reduction in expression in PTC compared to normal tissues surrounding PTC tumours. Reduced expression of CLUL1 was associated with greater patient survival and metastasis.
  • Keywords: PTC, microarray, CLUL1, survival