Table 3 Serum concentrations of HSP27 and 70 in TETs, TH and MG.

From: HSP27 and 70 expression in thymic epithelial tumors and benign thymic alterations: diagnostic, prognostic and physiologic implications

Groups

n

HSP serum concentrations

HSP27 [pg/ml]

p-value

HSP70 [ng/ml]

p-value

TETs

46

509.6(339.2) ± 456.1(67.2)

0.040 b

2.0(1.6) ± 1.7(0.3)

0.021 b

Volunteers

49

334.6(180.5) ± 351.7(50.2)

1.3(1.1) ± 0.9(0.1)

TC

20

635.9(419.3) ± 528.8(118.3)

0.021 a

2.4(2.0) ± 2.0(0.5)

0.015 a

Thymoma

26

412.5(279.8) ± 373.2(73.2)

1.7(1.5) ± 1.4(0.3)

Volunteers

49

334.6(180.5) ± 351.7(50.2)

1.3(1.1) ± 0.9(0.1)

TC

20

635.9(419.3) ± 528.8(118.3)

0.027 b

2.4(2.0) ± 2.0(0.5)

0.034 b

Volunteers

49

334.6(180.5) ± 351.7(50.2)

1.3(1.1) ± 0.9(0.1)

Thymoma

26

412.5(279.8) ± 373.2(73.2)

0.374 b

1.7(1.5) ± 1.4(0.3)

0.161 b

Volunteers

49

334.6(180.5) ± 351.7(50.2)

1.3(1.1) ± 0.9(0.1)

TETs

46

509.6(339.2) ± 456.1(67.2)

0.115 a

2.0(1.6) ± 1.7(0.3)

0.014 a

TH

33

464.6(312.8) ± 351.7(50.2)

1.3(1.1) ± 0.8(0.1)

Volunteers

49

334.6(180.5) ± 351.7(50.2)

1.3(1.1) ± 0.9(0.1)

TC

20

635.9(419.3) ± 528.8(118.3)

0.236 a

2.4(2.0) ± 2.0(0.5)

0.032 a

Thymoma

26

412.5(279.8) ± 373.2(73.2)

1.7(1.5) ± 1.4(0.3)

TH

33

464.6(312.8) ± 351.7(50.2)

1.3(1.1) ± 0.8(0.1)

TETs MG−

35

533.2(337.5) ± 475.5(80.4)

0.538 b

2.0(1.4) ± 1.9(0.3)

0.836 b

TETs MG+

11

434.6(396.7) ± 398.8(120.2)

1.9(1.9) ± 1.1(0.3)

MG (TETs + TH)

26

507.5(392.5) ± 456.5(89.5)

0.005 b

1.5(1.4) ± 0.9(0.2)

0.088 b

Volunteers*

26

215.5(144.5) ± 182.8(35.9)

1.1(0.8) ± 0.8(0.2)

Masaoka-KogaStage

  

0.153 a

 

0.472 a

I

7

446.2(285.0) ± 525.8(198.7)

1.4(1.0) ± 1.0(0.4)

II

15

318.2(260.2) ± 280.9(72.5)

1.6(1.0) ± 1.6(0.4)

III

6

694.9(685.1) ± 452.4(184.7)

2.3(1.7) ± 2.0(0.8)

IV

18

638.3(412.0) ± 508.5(119.9)

2.4(2.0) ± 1.9(0.4)

  1. Characterization and categorization of patients with TETs according to type of TET, tumor invasiveness and presence of MG. HSP27 and 70 serum concentrations were elevated in patients with TETs, particularly in patients with TCs. There was no significant difference between TETs with or without paraneoplastic MG. In contrast separate analysis of patients with MG (70% thymomatous MG) showed significantly higher HSP27 and 70 serum concentrations compared to volunteers. n , number; HSP27 , Heat Shock Protein 27; HSP70 , Heat Shock Protein 70; TETs , Thymic Epithelial Tumors; TC ; Thymic Carcinoma; TH , Thymic Hyperplasia; MG , Myasthenia Gravis.
  2. aOne-way ANOVA.
  3. bIndependent-samples t-test.
  4. *Subgroup of 26 patients with MG was sex- and age-matched for separate analysis. mean ( median ) ±  SD ( SEM ).
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