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Wang Z, Guo F, Fu G, Zhao Z, Kang N, Hou X, Zheng X. Predictive and prognostic value of aurora kinase A combined with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in medullary thyroid carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1379420. [PMID: 38903715 PMCID: PMC11187078 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1379420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Aurora kinase A (AURKA) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are both known to play an essential role in tumorigenesis. However, the expression and prognostic value of the AURKA and TILs in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) have not yet been investigated. Patients and methods Surgical specimens and clinical data of 137 patients diagnosed with MTC were collected. AURKA expression and TILs infiltration were quantified by immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Subsequently, the prognostic value of AURKA expression and TIL infiltration in MTC was evaluated. Results AURKA was highly expressed in patients with multifocal tumor, cervical lymph node metastasis, and an advanced TNM stage, indicating a high probability of recurrence. AURKA further exhibited a positive correlation with TILs (R = 0.44, P < 0.001). High expression of AURKA combined with a low numbers of TILs (AURKAhigh/TILslow) was identified as an independent prognostic factor for biochemical recurrence (odds ratio: 4.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.54-14.66, P < 0.01) and recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio: 3.64, 95% confidence interval: 1.52-8.71, P < 0.001). The combination of AURKA and TILs apparently improves the prognostic value for biochemical recurrence (area under the curve: 0.751) and structural recurrence (area under the curve: 0.836) of MTC. Notably, AURKAhigh/TILslow demonstrated a high value for prediction of distant or unresectable locoregional recurrence, with an overall accuracy of 86.9%. Conclusion AURKAhigh is associated with the MTC malignancy. The combination of AURKAhigh/TILslow was identified as novel independent prognostic marker in MTC, predicting incurable disease recurrence with high accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyu Wang
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Fengli Guo
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, China
| | - Guiming Fu
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Thyroid-otolaryngology Department, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Zewei Zhao
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Ning Kang
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiukun Hou
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiangqian Zheng
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
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Zhang D, Zhao F, Liu H, Guo P, Li Z, Li S. FABP6 serves as a new therapeutic target in esophageal tumor. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:1640-1662. [PMID: 38277205 PMCID: PMC10866426 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors with high incidence and mortality rates. Despite the continuous development of treatment options, the prognosis for esophageal cancer patients remains poor. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new diagnostic and therapeutic targets in clinical practice to improve the survival of patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS In this study, we conducted a comprehensive scRNA-seq analysis of the tumor microenvironment in primary esophageal tumors to elucidate cell composition and heterogeneity. Using Seurat, we identified eight clusters, encompassing non-immune cells (fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells) and immunocytes (myeloid-derived cells, T cells, B cells, and plasma cells). Compared to normal tissues, tumors exhibited an increased proportion of epithelial cells and alterations in immune cell infiltration. Analysis of epithelial cells revealed a cluster (cluster 0) with a high differentiation score and early distribution, suggesting its importance as a precursor cell. RESULTS Cluster 0 was characterized by high expression of FABP6, indicating a potential role in fatty acid metabolism and tumor growth. T cell analysis revealed shifts in the balance between Treg and CD8+ effector T cells in tumor tissues. Cellular communication analysis identified increased interactions between FABP6+ tumor cells and T cells, with the involvement of the MIF-related pathway and the CD74-CD44 interaction. This study provides insights into the cellular landscape and immune interactions within esophageal tumors, contributing to a better understanding of tumor heterogeneity and potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengfeng Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Fangchao Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Haitao Liu
- College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010031, China
| | - Pengfei Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Zhirong Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Shujun Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
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Besharat ZM, Trocchianesi S, Verrienti A, Ciampi R, Cantara S, Romei C, Sabato C, Noviello TMR, Po A, Citarella A, Caruso FP, Panariello I, Gianno F, Carpino G, Gaudio E, Chiacchiarini M, Masuelli L, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Ramone T, Maino F, Dotta F, Ceccarelli M, Pezzullo L, Durante C, Castagna MG, Elisei R, Ferretti E. Circulating miR-26b-5p and miR-451a as diagnostic biomarkers in medullary thyroid carcinoma patients. J Endocrinol Invest 2023; 46:2583-2599. [PMID: 37286863 PMCID: PMC10632281 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02115-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE/METHODS The determination of tumour biomarkers is paramount to advancing personalized medicine, more so in rare tumours like medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), whose diagnosis is still challenging. The aim of this study was to identify non-invasive circulating biomarkers in MTC. To achieve this goal, paired MTC tissue and plasma extracellular vesicle samples were collected from multiple centres and microRNA (miRNA) expression levels were evaluated. RESULTS The samples from a discovery cohort of 23 MTC patients were analysed using miRNA arrays. Lasso logistic regression analysis resulted in the identification of a set of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers. Among them, miR-26b-5p and miR-451a, were highly expressed and their expression decreased during follow-up in disease-free patients in the discovery cohort. Circulating miR-26b-5p and miR-451a were validated using droplet digital PCR in a second independent cohort of 12 MTC patients. CONCLUSION This study allowed the identification and validation of a signature of two circulating miRNAs, miR-26b-5p and miR-451a, in two independent cohorts reporting a significant diagnostic performance for MTC. The results of this study offer advancements in molecular diagnosis of MTC proposing a novel non-invasive tool to use in precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z M Besharat
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - S Trocchianesi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Verrienti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - R Ciampi
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Cantara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - C Romei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - C Sabato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - T M R Noviello
- Biogem Scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "Gaetano Salvatore", 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - A Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Citarella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - F P Caruso
- Biogem Scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "Gaetano Salvatore", 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - I Panariello
- Thyroid Surgical Unit, IRCCS Fondazione G.Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - F Gianno
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - G Carpino
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - E Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - M Chiacchiarini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - L Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M Sponziello
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - V Pecce
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - T Ramone
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Maino
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - F Dotta
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
- Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - M Ceccarelli
- Biogem Scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "Gaetano Salvatore", 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - L Pezzullo
- Thyroid Surgical Unit, IRCCS Fondazione G.Pascale, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - C Durante
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - M G Castagna
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - R Elisei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - E Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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Cui R, Zou J, Zhao Y, Zhao T, Ren L, Li Y. The dual-crosslinked prospective values of RAI14 for the diagnosis and chemosurveillance in triple negative breast cancer. Ann Med 2023; 55:820-836. [PMID: 36880986 PMCID: PMC10795645 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2177722] [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] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The exploration of non-invasive biomarkers for assessing tumor response is critical to optimize treatment decisions. In this study, we aimed at determining the potential role of RAI14 in the early diagnosis and evaluation of chemotherapy efficacy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS We recruited 116 patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer, 30 patients with benign breast disease and 30 healthy controls. In addition, 57 TNBC patients were collected in serum at different time points (C0, C2 and C4) for chemotherapy monitoring. The expression of serum RAI14 and CA15-3 were quantified by Elisa and electrochemiluminescence assay, respectively. Then we compared the performances of markers with the chemotherapy efficacy assessed by imaging. RESULTS RAI14 is significantly overexpressed in TNBC and is linked to adverse clinicopathological features such as tumor burden, CA15-3 levels and the ER, PR, and HER2 status of the patients. ROC curve analysis showed that RAI14 improves the diagnostic performance for CA15-3(AUCRAI14 = 0.934 vs. AUCCA15-3 = 0.836), especially embodied in early-stage breast cancer diagnosis and patients with CA15-3 negativity. Furthermore, RAI14 behaves well in reproducing treatment response which was consistent with clinical Imaging assessment. CONCLUSIONS Recent studies showed that RAI14 has a complementary effect to CA15-3 and a test combining the two parameters can improve the detection rate of early triple-negative breast cancer. At the same time, RAI14 plays a more important role in chemotherapy monitoring than CA15-3 as the change in its concentration is in line with the tumor volume variation. Taken together, RAI14 is a reliable novel marker in the early diagnosis and chemotherapy monitoring of triple-negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranliang Cui
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Jie Zou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ting Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Li Ren
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yueguo Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
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Yang X, Wang Y, Luo Y, Guo T, Zhang G. A dynamic study of the postoperative management of thyroid cancer from 2003 to 2022: a bibliometric analysis. Gland Surg 2023; 12:1579-1593. [PMID: 38107489 PMCID: PMC10721565 DOI: 10.21037/gs-23-218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Over the past 20 years, the global incidence of thyroid cancer has continued to increase. The volume of literature on the postoperative management of thyroid cancer comprises 1,040 articles, from 64 countries, with 1,400 journals publishing the relevant literature, and several guidelines on the treatment of thyroid cancer. This study used bibliometric methods to identify research hotspots and explore future directions in this field. Methods We comprehensively searched the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) database of the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) for articles published from 2003 to 2022 on the postoperative management of thyroid cancer. Using CiteSpace 6.1.R6 and Microsoft Office Excel 2010, we evaluated and visualized the search results. Using R Studio, we generated a network of spatial geographic distribution maps and cooperative network. Results A total of 1,040 publications were included in the study. The results revealed an overall upward trend in the number of publications and citations over the past 20 years. The United States of America (USA) had the largest number of publications and the highest centrality (n=282, centrality =0.28). Johns Hopkins University had highest centrality (centrality =0.15) and was the academic center of the field. Thyroid was the journal with the highest number of citations (n=826), and the American Journal of Surgical Pathology was the journal with the highest centrality (centrality =0.08). The top 10 citations in the literature were mainly guidelines and consensus statements on the management of thyroid cancer. A keyword-based clustering analysis revealed the prominence of clusters of keywords, such as follow-up, recurrent laryngeal nerve, and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). A keyword burst detection analysis showed that the term papillary had the highest burst intensity (strength =8.02), while management guidelines, association guidelines, active surveillance (AS), microcarcinoma, and differentiated thyroid cancer were the current burst words. Conclusions Over the past two decades, the number of relevant publications in the postoperative management of thyroid cancer field has continued to grow. Among the many research directions, follow-up, recurrent laryngeal nerve, and MTC are research hotspots. Future research is likely to revolve around guidelines and consensus statements on the management of thyroid cancer, AS, and microcarcinoma in differentiated thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Yang
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- Graduate School, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunpeng Luo
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Teng Guo
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guangde Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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An Y, Lu J, Hu M, Cao Q. A prediction model for the 5-year, 10-year and 20-year mortality of medullary thyroid carcinoma patients based on lymph node ratio and other predictors. Front Surg 2023; 9:1044971. [PMID: 36713658 PMCID: PMC9879301 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.1044971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim To explore the predictive value of lymph node ratio (LNR) for the prognosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) patients, and constructed prediction models for the 5-year, 10-year and 20-year mortality of MTC patients based on LNR and other predictors. Methods This cohort study extracted the data of 2,093 MTC patients aged ≥18 years undergoing total thyroidectomy and neck lymph nodes dissection. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were performed to compare survival curves between LNR < 15% group and LNR ≥ 15% group. All data was divided into the training set (n = 1,465) and the testing set (n = 628). The random survival forest model was constructed in the training set and validated in the testing set. The area under the curve (AUC) was employed for evaluating the predictive ability of the model. Results The 5-year, 10-year and 20-year overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) of MTC patients with LNR <15% were higher than those with LNR ≥15%. The OS was 46% and the CSS was 75% after 20 years' follow-up. The AUC of the model for the 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year OS in MTC patients was 0.878 (95%CI: 0.856-0.900), 0.859 (95%CI: 0.838-0.879) and 0.843 (95%CI: 0.823-0.862) in the training set and 0.845 (95%CI: 0.807-0.883), 0.841 (95%CI: 0.807-0.875) and 0.841 (95%CI: 0.811-0.872) in the testing set. In the training set, the AUCs were 0.869 (95%CI: 0.845-0.892), 0.843 (95%CI: 0.821-0.865), 0.819 (95%CI: 0.798-0.840) for the 5-year, 10-year and 20-year CCS in MTC patients, respectively. In the testing set, the AUCs were 0.857 (95%CI: 0.822-0.892), 0.839 (95%CI: 0.805-0.873) and 0.826 (95%CI: 0.794-0.857) for the 5-year CCS, 10-year CCS and 20-year CCS in MTC patients, respectively. Conclusion The models displayed good predictive performance, which might help identify MTC patients might have poor outcomes and appropriate interventions should be applied in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua An
- Department of General Practice, Beijing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingkai Lu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The 305th Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Mosheng Hu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Civil Aviation Medical Assessment Institute, Civil Aviation Medicine Center, CAAC, Beijing, China
| | - Qiumei Cao
- Department of General Practice, Beijing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,Correspondence: Qiumei Cao
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Censi S, Manso J, Mian C. Other markers of medullary thyroid cancer, not only calcitonin. Eur J Endocrinol 2023; 188:6990870. [PMID: 36651167 DOI: 10.1093/ejendo/lvac009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor originating from parafollicular C-cells. It represents 2% of all thyroid malignancies and 0.4-1.4% of all thyroid nodules. MTC has a variable clinical course, with complete remission often difficult to achieve. An early diagnosis is still crucial in MTC management, enabling a radical surgical treatment, the only chance for curing the patient. Calcitonin (Ct) is a very sensitive MTC tumor marker in patients with thyroid nodules, although Ct-negative MTCs have been described, but not all clinical guidelines recommend the Ct routine measurement in thyroid nodules because of the absolute low prevalence of MTC in the general population and the consequent scarce positive predictive value of Ct. Moreover, the specificity of moderately high Ct levels is not high. Thus, the scientific community has been investigating the possible role of other tumor markers for MTC diagnosis and prognosis. AIM OF THE REVIEW The present review is an attempt to summarize the knowledge available today on the role of other serum markers for MTC alternative to Ct. CONCLUSIONS At present, literature data does not seem solid enough yet to establish effective flowcharts in evaluating a thyroid nodule for MTC, involving alternative serum markers, particularly in cases of moderately high CT levels. MTC is a rare diagnosis in thyroid nodules, and this makes the evaluation of any tumor serum marker accuracy problematic. More extensive and prospective studies are needed to shed more light on this intriguing challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Censi
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Endocrinology Unit; University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Jacopo Manso
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Endocrinology Unit; University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Caterina Mian
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Endocrinology Unit; University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
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Yue W, Zhang Y. Oncologic outcomes of calcitonin-negative medullary thyroid carcinoma. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1025629. [PMID: 36506082 PMCID: PMC9727137 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1025629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Calcitonin (Ct)-negative medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. This study aimed to clarify its incidence, clinicopathologic characteristics, management, and treatment outcome. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed data of patients with primary MTC. Patients were divided into two groups according to the preoperative serum Ct level (Ct-negative and Ct-positive). The demographic, pathologic, and molecular characteristics, and treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups. In the Ct-negative group, we analyzed the association between the operation type and treatment outcome. RESULTS Of the total 312 patients, 24 were diagnosed with Ct-negative MTC. The rate of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in the Ct-positive than in the Ct-negative group (47.9% vs. 0%, p<0.001). The proportion of patients with Ki-67 ≤10% was significantly higher in the Ct-negative than in the Ct-positive group (87.5% vs. 38.2%, p<0.001). Excellent response was achieved by 91.7% and 34.7% of patients in the Ct-negative and Ct-positive groups, respectively (p<0.001). In the Ct-negative group, excellent response was achieved by all female patients, but only 50% of male patients. CONCLUSIONS Ct-negative MTC is rare and unlikely to develop lymph node metastasis. Unilateral lobectomy tends to provide a satisfactory chance of excellent response; however, this requires further validation.
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