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Gigliotti BJ, Brooks JA, Wirth LJ. Fundamentals and recent advances in the evaluation and management of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 592:112295. [PMID: 38871174 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare primary neuroendocrine thyroid carcinoma that is distinct from other thyroid or neuroendocrine cancers. Most cases of MTC are sporadic, although MTC exhibits a high degree of heritability as part of the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes. REarranged during Transfection (RET) mutations are the primary oncogenic drivers and advances in molecular profiling have revealed that MTC is enriched in druggable alterations. Surgery at an early stage is the only chance for cure, but many patients present with or develop metastases. C-cell-specific calcitonin trajectory and structural doubling times are critical biomarkers to inform prognosis, extent of surgery, likelihood of residual disease, and need for additional therapy. Recent advances in the role of active surveillance, regionally directed therapies for localized disease, and systemic therapy with multi-kinase and RET-specific inhibitors for progressive/metastatic disease have significantly improved outcomes for patients with MTC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer A Brooks
- Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
| | - Lori J Wirth
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Giovanella L, Tuncel M, Aghaee A, Campenni A, Petranović Ovčariček P, De Virgilio A. Theranostics of Thyroid Cancer. Semin Nucl Med 2024:S0001-2998(24)00011-4. [PMID: 38503602 DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2024.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Molecular imaging is pivotal in evaluating and managing patients with different thyroid cancer histotypes. The existing, pathology-based, risk stratification systems can be usefully refined, by incorporating tumor-specific molecular and molecular imaging biomarkers with theranostic value, allowing patient-specific treatment decisions. Molecular imaging with different radioactive iodine isotopes (ie, I131, I123, I124) is a central component of differentiated carcinoma (DTC)'s risk stratification while [18F]F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) PET/CT is interrogated about disease aggressiveness and presence of distant metastases. Moreover, it is particularly useful to assess and risk-stratify patients with radioiodine-refractory DTC, poorly differentiated, and anaplastic thyroid cancers. [18F]F-dihydroxyphenylalanine (6-[18F]FDOPA) PET/CT is the most specific and accurate molecular imaging procedure for patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), a neuroendocrine tumor derived from thyroid C-cells. In addition, [18F]FDG PET/CT can be used in patients with more aggressive clinical or biochemical (ie, serum markers levels and kinetics) MTC phenotypes. In addition to conventional radioiodine therapy for DTC, new redifferentiation strategies are now available to restore uptake in radioiodine-refractory DTC. Moreover, peptide receptor theranostics showed promising results in patients with advanced and metastatic radioiodine-refractory DTC and MTC, respectively. The current appropriate role and future perspectives of molecular imaging and theranostics in thyroid cancer are discussed in our present review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Giovanella
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Gruppo Ospedaliero Moncucco, Lugano, Switzerland; Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Murat Tuncel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Atena Aghaee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Alfredo Campenni
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morpho-Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Petra Petranović Ovčariček
- Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Armando De Virgilio
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
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3
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Yamazaki H, Kunisaki C, Sugimori M, Rino Y, Saito A. Genetic landscape of 482 thyroid carcinomas: analysis with the national datacenter for cancer genomic medicine in Japan. Endocrine 2024:10.1007/s12020-024-03738-y. [PMID: 38407696 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03738-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Comprehensive genomic profiling is useful for patients with Thyroid carcinoma (TC) for whom standard treatment has become refractory. We analyzed the clinical and genomic characteristics of patients with TC using the Japanese nationwide Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT) database. METHODS This retrospective observational study used the data obtained from the C-CAT database. Genomic information has been accumulated on representative gene mutations associated with TC. RESULTS Among the 482 patients, 212 (44%) were male and 270 (56%) were female. According to histological type, 259 (54%), 46 (10%), 16 (3%), 51 (11%), and 110 (23%) patients had papillary TC (PTC), follicular TC, medullary TC, poorly differentiated TC, and anaplastic TC (ATC), respectively. Among the genomic profiling tests, FoundationOne CDx (n = 388; 80%) was the most frequently performed. The frequencies of BRAF, NRAS, HRAS, KRAS, and RET mutations were 259 (54%), 62 (13%), 13 (3%), 16 (3%), and 12 (2%), respectively. The BRAF V600E mutation (n = 257) was the predominant BRAF mutation. TERT promoter mutations, which are associated with tumor aggressiveness, were detected in 308 patients (64%). CONCLUSIONS PTC was the most common histologic type of TC for which genetic profiling was performed in Japan, followed by ATC. Since the most common targetable mutation is the BRAF mutation, practical application of BRAF-targeted therapy can be an important treatment option for Japanese patients with TC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruhiko Yamazaki
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafunecho, Minami-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 232-0024, Japan.
| | - Chikara Kunisaki
- Division of Cancer Genome Medicine, Genomics Laboratory, and Gastroenterology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafunecho, Minami-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 232-0024, Japan
| | - Makoto Sugimori
- Division of Cancer Genome Medicine, Genomics Laboratory, and Gastroenterology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafunecho, Minami-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 232-0024, Japan
| | - Yasushi Rino
- Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Aya Saito
- Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
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4
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Shen C, Shi X, Wen D, Zhang Y, Du Y, Zhang Y, Ma B, Tang H, Yin M, Huang N, Liao T, Zhang TT, Kong C, Wei W, Ji Q, Wang Y. Comprehensive DNA Methylation Profiling of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Molecular Classification, Potential Therapeutic Target, and Classifier System. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:127-138. [PMID: 37931242 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-2142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) presents a distinct biological context from other thyroid cancers due to its specific cellular origin. This heterogeneous and rare tumor has a high prevalence of advanced diseases, making it crucial to address the limited therapeutic options and enhance complex clinical management. Given the high clinical accessibility of methylation information, we construct the largest MTC methylation cohort to date. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Seventy-eight fresh-frozen MTC samples constituted our methylation cohort. The comprehensive study process incorporated machine learning, statistical analysis, and in vitro experiments. RESULTS Our study pioneered the identification of a three-class clustering system for risk stratification, exhibiting pronounced epigenomic heterogeneity. The elevated overall methylation status in MTC-B, combined with the "mutual exclusivity" of hypomethylated sites displayed by MTC-A and MTC-C, distinctively characterized the MTC-specific methylation pattern. Integrating with the transcriptome, we further depicted the features of these three clusters to scrutinize biological properties. Several MTC-specific aberrant DNA methylation events were emphasized in our study. NNAT expression was found to be notably reduced in poor-prognostic MTC-C, with its promoter region overlapping with an upregulated differentially methylated region. In vitro experiments further affirmed NNAT's therapeutic potential. Moreover, we built an elastic-net logistic regression model with a relatively high AUC encompassing 68 probes, intended for future validation and systematic clinical application. CONCLUSIONS Conducting research on diseases with low incidence poses significant challenges, and we provide a robust resource and comprehensive research framework to assist in ongoing MTC case inclusion and facilitate in-depth dissection of its molecular biological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cenkai Shen
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Shi
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Duo Wen
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yuqing Zhang
- School of Data Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yuxin Du
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ben Ma
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Haitao Tang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Min Yin
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Naisi Huang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Tian Liao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ting-Ting Zhang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Chang'e Kong
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Wenjun Wei
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Qinghai Ji
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
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Gupta P, Herring B, Kumar N, Telange R, Garcia-Buntley SS, Caceres TW, Colantonio S, Williams F, Kurup P, Carter AM, Lin D, Chen H, Rose B, Jaskula-Sztul R, Mukhtar S, Reddy S, Bibb JA. Faulty Metabolism: A Potential Instigator of an Aggressive Phenotype in Cdk5-dependent Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544755. [PMID: 37398342 PMCID: PMC10312670 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Mechanistic modeling of cancers such as Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) to emulate patient-specific phenotypes is challenging. The discovery of potential diagnostic markers and druggable targets in MTC urgently requires clinically relevant animal models. Here we established orthotopic mouse models of MTC driven by aberrantly active Cdk5 using cell-specific promoters. Each of the two models elicits distinct growth differences that recapitulate the less or more aggressive forms of human tumors. The comparative mutational and transcriptomic landscape of tumors revealed significant alterations in mitotic cell cycle processes coupled with the slow-growing tumor phenotype. Conversely, perturbation in metabolic pathways emerged as critical for aggressive tumor growth. Moreover, an overlapping mutational profile was identified between mouse and human tumors. Gene prioritization revealed putative downstream effectors of Cdk5 which may contribute to the slow and aggressive growth in the mouse MTC models. In addition, Cdk5/p25 phosphorylation sites identified as biomarkers for Cdk5-driven neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) were detected in both slow and rapid onset models and were also histologically present in human MTC. Thus, this study directly relates mouse and human MTC models and uncovers vulnerable pathways potentially responsible for differential tumor growth rates. Functional validation of our findings may lead to better prediction of patient-specific personalized combinational therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Gupta
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University of Arizona School of Medicine in Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2230, USA
| | - Brendon Herring
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Nilesh Kumar
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Rahul Telange
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Sandra S. Garcia-Buntley
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Antibody Characterization Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Tessa W. Caceres
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Antibody Characterization Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Simona Colantonio
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Antibody Characterization Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Ford Williams
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Pradeep Kurup
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Angela M. Carter
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Diana Lin
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Herbert Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Bart Rose
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Renata Jaskula-Sztul
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Shahid Mukhtar
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Sushanth Reddy
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - James A. Bibb
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University of Arizona School of Medicine in Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2230, USA
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6
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Lazure P, Sireci A, Subbiah V, Murray S, Grohé C, Sherman SI, Kelly E, Bubach P, Péloquin S. Challenges in diagnosis and biomarker testing for RET-altered lung and thyroid cancer care: an international mixed-method study. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2023; 23:410. [PMID: 37277734 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04396-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The introduction of new targeted therapies for RET-altered lung and thyroid cancers (LC/TC) has impacted pathologists' practice by making genomic testing more relevant. Variations in health systems and treatment access result in distinct clinical challenges and barriers. This study aimed to assess practice gaps and challenges experienced by pathologists involved in the diagnosis of RET-altered LC/TC, including biomarker testing, to inform educational solutions. METHODS Pathologists in Germany, Japan, the UK, and US participated in this ethics-approved mixed-methods study, which included interviews and surveys (data collected January-March 2020). Qualitative data was thematically analysed, quantitative data was analysed with chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis H-tests, and both were triangulated. RESULTS A total of 107 pathologists took part in this study. Knowledge gaps were reported regarding genomic testing for LC/TC in Japan (79/60%), the UK (73/66%), and the US (53/30%). Skill gaps were reported when selecting genomic biomarker tests to diagnose TC in Japan (79%), the UK (73%) and US (57%) and when performing specific biomarker tests, especially in Japan (82% for RET) and in the UK (75% for RET). Japanese participants (80%) reported uncertainty about what information to share with the multidisciplinary team to ensure optimal patient-centered care. At the time of data collection, pathologists in Japan faced access barriers to using RET biomarker tests: only 28% agreed that there are relevant RET genomic biomarker tests available in Japan, versus 67% to 90% in other countries. CONCLUSIONS This study identified areas where pathologists need additional continuing professional development opportunities to enhance their competencies and better support delivery of care to patients with RET-altered lung or thyroid tumours. Addressing identified gaps and improving competencies of pathologists in this field should be emphasised in continuing medical education curricula and through quality improvement initiatives. Strategies deployed on an institutional and health system level should aim to improve interprofessional communication and genetic biomarker testing expertise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrice Lazure
- AXDEV Group Inc., 8, Place du Commerce, Suite 210, Brossard, Québec, J4W 3H2, Canada.
| | | | - Vivek Subbiah
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Suzanne Murray
- AXDEV Group Inc., 8, Place du Commerce, Suite 210, Brossard, Québec, J4W 3H2, Canada
| | | | - Steven I Sherman
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Sophie Péloquin
- AXDEV Group Inc., 8, Place du Commerce, Suite 210, Brossard, Québec, J4W 3H2, Canada
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7
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Bhandari NR, Hess LM, Parikh RC, Sireci AN, Krein PM, Kaye JA. Biomarker testing in patients diagnosed with advanced/metastatic medullary thyroid cancer in the United States. Per Med 2023. [PMID: 36749615 DOI: 10.2217/pme-2022-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Aim: To describe real-world testing patterns for RET in US patients with advanced/metastatic medullary thyroid cancer and determine consistency of real-world testing practices with national guidelines. Materials & methods: The authors performed a retrospective medical record analysis of patients with advanced/metastatic medullary thyroid cancer who initiated systemic therapy between 2013 and 2018. Seventy-five US-based oncologists collected the data using a customized electronic data collection form. Results: A total of 59.6% (121 of 203) of patients underwent testing for RET, and 37.2% (45 of 121) had a RET mutation, of which 55.6% were identified as RET mutation-positive before initial diagnosis. Overall, 90 (44.3%) patients were tested for biomarkers on or after initial diagnosis, with RET being the most tested (95.6%) biomarker. Conclusion: The authors' findings suggest an opportunity to improve testing rates in accordance with treatment guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa M Hess
- Eli Lilly & Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | - Rohan C Parikh
- RTI Health Solutions, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | | | | | - James A Kaye
- RTI Health Solutions, 307 Waverley Oaks Road, Suite 101, Waltham, MA 02452, USA
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Yun HJ, Lim JH, Kim SY, Kim SM, Park KC. Discovery of Pharmaceutical Composition for Prevention and Treatment in Patient-Derived Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Model. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081901. [PMID: 36009450 PMCID: PMC9405678 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a well-known neuroendocrine carcinoma, derived from C cells of the thyroid gland. Additionally, MTC is an uncommon aggressive carcinoma that metastasizes to lymph nodes, bones, lungs and liver. For MTC, the 10-year general survival ratio of patients with localized disease is about 95%, whereas that of patients with local phase disorder is around 75%. Only 20% of patients with distant metastasis to lung at diagnosis survive 10 years, which is notably lower than survival for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC). The management of MTC with distant metastasis to lung could be re-surgery or chemotherapy. In this research, we planned to assess the in vitro and in vivo combinational anticancer effect of a novel combination of low-dose cisplatin and sorafenib in patient-derived MTC. The patient-derived MTC cell lines YUMC-M1, M2, and M3 were isolated and treated with a combination of cisplatin and sorafenib or either agent alone. Cisplatin and sorafenib acted in combination to forward tumor restraint compared with each agent administered alone at a low dose. Therefore, a combination of cisplatin and sorafenib could be a new therapeutic approach for MTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeok-Jun Yun
- Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 135720, Korea
| | - Jin-Hong Lim
- Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 135720, Korea
| | - Sang-Yong Kim
- Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120752, Korea
| | - Seok-Mo Kim
- Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 135720, Korea
- Correspondence: (S.-M.K.); (K.-C.P.); Tel.: +82-2-2019-3370 (S.-M.K.); +82-2-2228-2861 (K.-C.P.); Fax: +82-2-3462-5994 (S.-M.K.); +82-2-362-8647 (K.-C.P.)
| | - Ki-Cheong Park
- Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120752, Korea
- Correspondence: (S.-M.K.); (K.-C.P.); Tel.: +82-2-2019-3370 (S.-M.K.); +82-2-2228-2861 (K.-C.P.); Fax: +82-2-3462-5994 (S.-M.K.); +82-2-362-8647 (K.-C.P.)
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9
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Minna E, Romeo P, Dugo M, De Cecco L, Aiello A, Pistore F, Carenzo A, Greco A, Borrello MG. Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Mutational Spectrum Update and Signaling-Type Inference by Transcriptional Profiles: Literature Meta-Analysis and Study of Tumor Samples. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14081951. [PMID: 35454858 PMCID: PMC9028774 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14081951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare but clinically relevant tumor based on its aggressiveness and the limited therapeutic opportunities currently available for advanced cases. A better understanding of the mechanisms of MTC development is crucial to identify more effective means of intervention and therapies. Several studies have shown that RET and RAS genes play a central role in MTC. However, little is known about the signaling processes operating downstream of these genes. Here, we report mutation and gene expression profiles in proprietary sporadic MTCs, including both primary and metastatic tumors. We show that tumors derived from the same patient display similar expression profiles and that the latter can be used to obtain information about specific downstream signaling, identifying distinct molecular subtypes. Furthermore, by reviewing the relevant literature, we highlight that, along with RET and RAS, other less frequent genes are emerging as possible new players in MTC. Abstract Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare but aggressive tumor. Although RET and RAS genes are recognized drivers in MTC, associated downstream signaling pathways are largely unknown. In this study, we report 17 sporadic MTCs, collected at our institution, comprising patient-matched primary and lymph node metastatic tumors investigated for mutational and transcriptional profiles. As we identified two uncommon RET deletions (D898_E901del and E632_L633del), we also performed a literature review and meta-analysis to assess the occurrence of unconventional alterations in MTC, focusing on next-generation sequencing studies. We found that new gene alterations are emerging, along with the known RET/RAS drivers, involving not only RET by multiple concurrent mutations or deletions but also other previously underestimated cancer-related genes, especially in sporadic MTCs. In our MTC gene profiles, we found transcriptome similarity between patient-matched tissues and expression of immune genes only by a few samples. Furthermore, we defined a gene signature able to stratify samples into two distinct signaling types, termed MEN2B-like and MEN2A-like. We provide an updated overview of the MTC mutational spectrum and describe how transcriptional profiles can be used to define distinct MTC signaling subtypes that appear to be shared by various gene drivers, including the unconventional ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Minna
- Molecular Mechanisms Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (L.D.C.); (F.P.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Paola Romeo
- Molecular Mechanisms Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (L.D.C.); (F.P.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Matteo Dugo
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Loris De Cecco
- Molecular Mechanisms Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (L.D.C.); (F.P.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Antonella Aiello
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Federico Pistore
- Molecular Mechanisms Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (L.D.C.); (F.P.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Andrea Carenzo
- Molecular Mechanisms Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (L.D.C.); (F.P.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Angela Greco
- Molecular Mechanisms Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (L.D.C.); (F.P.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Maria Grazia Borrello
- Molecular Mechanisms Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (L.D.C.); (F.P.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (M.G.B.)
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10
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Molecular Imaging and Theragnostics of Thyroid Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051272. [PMID: 35267580 PMCID: PMC8909041 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging plays an important role in the evaluation and management of different thyroid cancer histotypes. The existing risk stratification models can be refined, by incorporation of tumor-specific molecular markers that have theranostic power, to optimize patient-specific (individualized) treatment decisions. Molecular imaging with varying radioisotopes of iodine (i.e., 131I, 123I, 124I) is an indispensable component of dynamic and theragnostic risk stratification of differentiated carcinoma (DTC) while [18F]F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) helps in addressing disease aggressiveness, detects distant metastases, and risk-stratifies patients with radioiodine-refractory DTC, poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid cancers. For medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), a neuroendocrine tumor derived from thyroid C-cells, [18F]F-dihydroxyphenylalanine (6-[18F]FDOPA) PET/CT and/or [18F]FDG PET/CT can be used dependent on serum markers levels and kinetics. In addition to radioiodine therapy for DTC, some theragnostic approaches are promising for metastatic MTC as well. Moreover, new redifferentiation strategies are now available to restore uptake in radioiodine-refractory DTC while new theragnostic approaches showed promising preliminary results for advanced and aggressive forms of follicular-cell derived thyroid cancers (i.e., peptide receptor radiotherapy). In order to help clinicians put the role of molecular imaging into perspective, the appropriate role and emerging opportunities for molecular imaging and theragnostics in thyroid cancer are discussed in our present review.
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Huang S, Zhong J, Zhang Z, Chen R, Li J, Sun J, Chen H. Prognosis of radiotherapy in medullary thyroid carcinoma patients without distant metastasis. Transl Cancer Res 2022; 10:4714-4726. [PMID: 35116326 PMCID: PMC8798267 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-21-1179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is an advanced disease with a poor prognosis. Although radiotherapy is widely utilized to treat MTC, it is still controversial. MTC patients without distant metastases have not been investigated to explore indications for adjuvant radiotherapy. This study aims to investigate the impact of radiotherapy on the survival of MTC patients without distant metastases. Methods Data of MTC patients without distant metastasis who underwent total thyroidectomy between 2010 and 2015 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Propensity score matching was performed to analyze the relationship between radiotherapy and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results Seventy-four of 718 MTC patients without distant metastases received radiotherapy and underwent total thyroidectomy. A total of 148 patients were screened via propensity score matching analysis. Multivariate Cox regression indicated that factors including age, sex, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were independent predictors of CSS. Based on these factors, MTC patients without distant metastasis were classified into two risk groups using a nomogram and risk classification system. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.791. The calibration curves showed good consistency of CSS between the actual observation and the nomogram prediction, and decision curve analysis (DCA) showed great clinical usefulness of the nomogram. The three-year CSS of the radiotherapy group was 85.3%, and that of the surgery group was 95%. Particularly, compared with the surgery group, the three-year CSS of subgroups of the radiotherapy group, including male patients and those aged >48 years, was decreased. Conclusions Radiotherapy results in worse CSS for MTC patients without distant metastases. To maximize benefits, decisions about individual radiotherapy should weigh its advantages and disadvantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojun Huang
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiana Zhong
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongping Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jitong Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Sun
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Pan J, Ye F, Yu C, Zhu Q, Li J, Zhang Y, Tian H, Yao Y, Zhu M, Shen Y, Zhu F, Wang Y, Zhou X, Guo G, Wu Y. Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Landscape and Its Immunological Link With Hashimoto Thyroiditis at Single-Cell Resolution. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:758339. [PMID: 34805166 PMCID: PMC8602800 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.758339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment heterogeneity of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is poorly characterized. The relationship between PTC and Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is also in doubt. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to map the transcriptome landscape of PTC from eight PTC patients, of which three were concurrent with HT. Predicted copy number variation in epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells revealed the distinct molecular signatures of carcinoma cells. Carcinoma cells demonstrated intertumoral heterogeneity based on BRAF V600E mutation or lymph node metastasis, and some altered genes were identified to be correlated with disease-free survival in The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets. In addition, transcription factor regulons of follicular epithelial cells unveil the different transcription activation state in PTC patients with or without concurrent HT. The immune cells in tumors exhibited distinct transcriptional states, and the presence of tumor-infiltrating B lymphocytes was predominantly linked to concurrent HT origin. Trajectory analysis of B cells and plasma cells suggested their migration potential from HT adjacent tissues to tumor tissues. Furthermore, we revealed diverse ligand–receptor pairs between non-immune cells, infiltrating myeloid cells, and lymphocytes. Our results provided a single-cell landscape of human PTC. These data would deepen the understanding of PTC, as well as the immunological link between PTC and HT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Pan
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fang Ye
- Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengxuan Yu
- Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qinsheng Zhu
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaohui Zhang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hedi Tian
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunjin Yao
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minjie Zhu
- Surgical Department, Hangzhou Third Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yibin Shen
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinhui Zhou
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guoji Guo
- Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Stem Cell Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yijun Wu
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Ratajczak M, Gaweł D, Godlewska M. Novel Inhibitor-Based Therapies for Thyroid Cancer-An Update. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11829. [PMID: 34769260 PMCID: PMC8584403 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancers (TCs) are the most common tumors of the endocrine system and a constant rise in the number of TC cases has been observed for the past few decades. TCs are one of the most frequent tumors in younger adults, especially in women, therefore early diagnosis and effective therapy are especially important. Ultrasonography examination followed by fine needle biopsy have become the gold standard for diagnosis of TCs, as these strategies allow for early-stage detection and aid accurate qualification for further procedures, including surgical treatment. Despite all the advancements in detection and treatment of TCs, constant mortality levels are still observed. Therefore, a novel generation line of targeted treatment strategies is being developed, including personalized therapies with kinase inhibitors. Recent molecular studies on TCs demonstrate that kinase inhibitor-based therapies might be considered as the most promising. In the past decade, new kinase inhibitors with different mechanisms of action have been reported and approved for clinical trials. This review presents an up-to-date picture of new approaches and challenges of inhibitor-based therapies in treatment of TCs, focusing on the latest findings reported over the past two years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Ratajczak
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Endocrinology, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Damian Gaweł
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Immunohematology, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marlena Godlewska
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
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