To determine whether Wnt4 and FoxN1 are involved in the pathogenesis of thymoma, this study determined the mRNA and protein levels of Wnt4 and Foxn1 in thymoma, and analyzed the effect of thymoma cell apoptosis and tumor growth in nude mice after Wnt4 and FoxN1 downregulation.
For TSCCs, quite specific immunohistochemical markers (eg, CD5, CD70, CD117, CD205, FOXN1) and chromosomal gains and losses have been defined that help to distinguish TSCCs not only from malignant thymomas but also from pulmonary squamous cell carcinomas.
Foxn1 was diffusely expressed in nuclear staining in all cases of type B thymoma and all but 1 case of type A thymoma, whereas the expression was generally focal in thymic carcinoma (76%).