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Cirello V, Gambale C, Nikitski AV, Masaki C, Roque J, Colombo C. Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma: molecular, clinico-pathological hallmarks and therapeutic perspectives. Panminerva Med 2024; 66:155-173. [PMID: 38576304 DOI: 10.23736/s0031-0808.23.05040-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) is a rare and extremely aggressive tumor, accounting for about 2-15% of all thyroid cancer. PDTC has a distinct biological behavior compared to well-differentiated and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and, in last years, it has been classified as a separate entity from both anatomopathological and clinical points of view. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of consensus among clinicians regarding inclusion criteria and definition of PDTC that affects its diagnosis and clinical management. Due to its rarity and difficulty in classification compared to other tumors, very few studies are available to date and series often include different histotypes in addition to PDTC. This review focuses on main studies concerning PDTC summarizing the evolution in the definition of its diagnosis criteria, clinicopathological features, management, and outcome. The data available confirm that the pathological evaluation and classification of PDTC are crucial and should therefore be standardized. Since the clinical presentation and prognosis of PDTC may vary widely depending on the different stage of the disease at diagnosis, the patient's management may differ in treatment and should be tailored to each patient. Finally, this review discusses advances in molecular insights of PDTC that, together with the implementation of both in vitro and in vivo models, will provide valuable insights into biological mechanisms of progression, metastasis, and invasion of this aggressive thyroid carcinoma. Further studies on larger, carefully selected series are needed to better assess the peculiar features of PDTC and to better define its management by focusing on the best diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Cirello
- Endocrine Oncology Unit, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Gambale
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrine Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alyaksandr V Nikitski
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Chie Masaki
- Department of Surgery, Ito Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - João Roque
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carla Colombo
- Endocrine Oncology Unit, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy -
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Gulcelik NE, Akin S, Aydin K, Aydin Mericoz C, Guler Tezel YG, Usman A. The role of vascular endothelial growth factor in the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients with lymphocytic thyroiditis. Minerva Endocrinol (Torino) 2023; 48:379-386. [PMID: 35775885 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-6507.22.03663-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune chronic inflammatory conditions and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We hypothesized that, as VEGF expression is increased both in PTC and in lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT), it may stimulate the development of PTC in patients with LT. To evaluate this, we examined both tumor and adjacent non-tumoral tissues of PTC patients with and without LT. METHODS A total of 50 patients with PTC (52.50±7.41 years) and 17 patients with nodular goiter (NG) (50.47±10.38 years) were included in the study. According to the presence of LT, patients with PTC were further divided into two groups. Immunohistochemical analyses of VEGF were conducted in all patients and for PTC patients, both tumor tissue and adjacent non-tumoral tissue were evaluated. RESULTS The scores for intensity of staining and percentage of labeled thyrocytes for VEGF were found to be significantly higher in the PTC patients than in the NG patients (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). The tumor tissue revealed similar scores for PTC patients with LT and without LT. However, the scores in adjacent non-tumoral tissue were higher in PTC patients with LT than in patients without LT (P=0.004, P=0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, our results are the first to demonstrate that the expression of VEGF in adjacent non-tumoral tissue were higher in PTC patients with LT than in those without, which shows a possible role of VEGF expression in the progression of PTC in the presence of LT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nese E Gulcelik
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye -
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Türkiye -
| | - Safak Akin
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Kadriye Aydin
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Cisel Aydin Mericoz
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Pathology, Koc University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Yesim G Guler Tezel
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Aydan Usman
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Private Clinic, Ankara, Türkiye
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Valencia J, Jiménez J, Sanabria A. Early stimulated thyroglobulin after thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer predicts preradioiodine therapy thyroglobulin values. Minerva Endocrinol (Torino) 2023; 48:387-394. [PMID: 35822431 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-6507.22.03813-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Follow-up of patients who undergo a total thyroidectomy is performed with thyroglobulin (Tg), and antithyroglobulin antibodies (AbTg). The objective of RAI adjuvant therapy is to negativize Tg to undetectable levels to ease the follow-up. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of serum Tg values measured 2 weeks after surgery with the Tg value prior to RAI adjuvant therapy in order to define its utility as a reliable predictor of pretherapy Tg and as a potential predictor to avoid RAI adjuvant therapy. METHODS Retrospective analysis of a cohort recruited prospectively. Adult patients with thyroid carcinoma who underwent total thyroidectomy and classified as intermediate or high risk by ATA guidelines. All patients were left without levothyroxine support after surgery and for at least two weeks. We measured biochemical markers two-four weeks after thyroidectomy and before and after RAI. RESULTS We included 75 patients. Thirty-three (44.0%) patients were classified as ATA high risk. In the post-RAI scan, only 1 (1.3%) showed distant metastases. The comparison between early postoperative and pretherapy Tg values showed that Tg decreased or remained stable at postoperative levels in 75 patients (100%). CONCLUSIONS Postoperative Tg measurements are a reliable marker of pretherapy Tg levels in patients with intermediate- and high-risk thyroid carcinoma who are candidates for RAI adjuvant therapy. These results need correlation with outcomes and response to therapy in high-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Valencia
- School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
- Head and Neck Service, Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Jorge Jiménez
- Centro de Excelencia en Enfermedades de Cabeza y Cuello (CEXCA), Medellín, Colombia
| | - Alvaro Sanabria
- School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia -
- Centro de Excelencia en Enfermedades de Cabeza y Cuello (CEXCA), Medellín, Colombia
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Russo E, Guizzardi M, Canali L, Gaino F, Costantino A, Mazziotti G, Lania A, Uccella S, Di Tommaso L, Ferreli F, Malvezzi L, Spriano G, Mercante G. Preoperative systemic inflammatory markers as prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2023; 24:1205-1216. [PMID: 37828383 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-023-09845-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inflammation has been associated with tumor development and circulating inflammatory biomarkers have been proposed as possible predictors of recurrence of several solid tumors. However, the role of inflammation markers in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is still uncertain. OBJECTIVE This meta-analysis aimed to assess the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with DTC. METHODS Studies investigating the association between survival and preoperative circulating inflammatory markers in DTC patients were included. The primary outcome was disease-free survival (DFS). Cumulative logarithms of the hazard ratio (log-HRs) with 95% CI were calculated through the inverse variance method using a random-effects model. RESULTS A total of 7599 patients with a mean age of 48.89 (95% CI 44.16-53.63) were included. The estimated pooled log-HRs for DFS were 0.07 for NLR (95% CI -0.12-0.26; p = 0.43), -0.58 for LMR (95% CI -1.21-0.05; p = 0.06), and 0.01 (95% CI 0-0.01; p = 0.21) for PLR. CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis showed no association between NLR, PLR, LMR and DFS in DTC; however, more prospective data are needed to better define the association between inflammatory status and prognosis of DTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Russo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Mathilda Guizzardi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Canali
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy.
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Gaino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Costantino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Gherardo Mazziotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Endocrinology, Diabetology and Medical Andrology Unit, IRCSS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Lania
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Endocrinology, Diabetology and Medical Andrology Unit, IRCSS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Uccella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathology, IRCSS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Di Tommaso
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathology, IRCSS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Ferreli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Malvezzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Spriano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mercante
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele-Milan, Italy
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano-Milan, Italy
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Elbasan O, Gogas Yavuz D. Comparison of staging and recurrence predictors in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer between the 7th and 8th editions of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging systems. Minerva Endocrinol (Torino) 2023; 48:261-273. [PMID: 36756784 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-6507.22.03791-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The predictive value of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8 for recurrence in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is not known. We aimed to compare AJCC 7 and 8 regarding the differences in staging and recurrence predictors in DTC. METHODS Demographic, clinical (duration of disease and follow-up, the extent of surgery), laboratory (TSH, fT4, thyroglobulin, and antithyroglobulin), pathological (type of thyroid cancer, localization, multifocality, diameter, extrathyroidal extension [ETE], and lymph node [LN] metastasis), and imaging findings (sonography, and whole-body scan), and follow-up features (metastases, recurrence and/or persistence, and RAI need) were retrospectively analyzed in adult patients with DTC followed-up for at least six months. Staging was determined in accordance with AJCC 7 and AJCC 8, prediction of recurrence and persistence by ATA risk stratification, and death risk by AMES systems. The alterations in staging and recurrence predictors were analyzed. RESULTS A majority of study patients (N.=524) were female (N.=424) and diagnosed with papillary cancer (N.=511), the median age at diagnosis was 44. 97.89% (N.=93) of stage 2-4 patients (N.=95) in AJCC 7 were down-staged in AJCC 8. We down-staged 41 patients of 45-55 years of age into stage 1 in AJCC 8 independent of LN status. A percentage of 26.71% of patients (N.=140) did have persistence, 9.54% (N.=50) persistence at the last follow-up, and 9.54% (N.=50) had recurrence. According to AJCC 8, T4 and AMES high risk were predictors for recurrence (hazard ratio: 3.053, P=0.023; hazard ratio:2.465, and P=0.005; respectively). Both AJCC 7 and 8 were associated with recurrence (P=0.008 and P<0.001, respectively). Stage 4 in AJCC 7, and stages 3 and 4 in AJCC 8 better predicted the probability of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that AJCC 8 better predicted the recurrence in DTC than AJCC 7. In AJCC 8, T4 tumor, AMES high risk, stages 3 and 4 predicted recurrence. The vast majority of patients with stages 2-4 in AJCC 7 were down-staged in AJCC 8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onur Elbasan
- Clinics of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Sinop Ataturk State Hospital, Sinop, Türkiye -
| | - Dilek Gogas Yavuz
- School of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Marmara University, Istanbul, Türkiye
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