Objective To investigate the expression of c-met in tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma, and to compare it with other types of thyroid carcinoma and benign thyroid tissue. Methods The expressions of c-met in 60 cases of thyroid specimens were tested by immunohistochemical staining. Results The levels of expressed c-met in tall cell variant specimens were significantly higher than those in other types of papillary thyroid carcinoma and benign thyroid tissue. c-met expressions were significantly different in the following pairs of types: tall cell variant vs common papillary carcinoma of thyroid (P=0.000 1), tall cell variant vs follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (P=0.000 1), and tall cell variant vs benign thyroid tissue (P=0.000 1). In addition, for all types of papillary carcinomas evaluated, c-met expression was significantly higher in specimens with extracapsular spread (P=0.010 0) and skeletal muscle invasion (P=0.020 0). Conclusion The high expression of c-met is a significant marker for tall cell variant papillary carcinoma of thyroid and its invasive behavior. This finding may explain the unusually aggressive behavior of this tumor and suggest a role for c-met in the early identification of patients with tall cell variant thyroid carcinoma.
ObjectiveTo study the expressions of BRAF gene in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) >1 cm in diameter, and the invasiveness of PTMC and PTC. MethodsThe data of 275 patients with PTC received surgical treatment and with BRAF gene mutation results in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2011 September to 2013 September were retrospectively analyzed. According to the size of tumors, the patients were divided into three groups, was the diameter <1 cm group, 1 cm< diameter≤2 cm group, and diameter >2 cm group,respectively. The ratio of BRAF gene mutation, and the degree of risk of extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis were compared. ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that tumor size was not related with the age, gender, and BRAF gene mutation rate (P>0.05), while the tumor size was related with the extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), and the ratio of BRAF gene mutation was related with the extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size was associated with extrathyroidal extension (P=0.009) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.000). ConclusionsBRAF gene mutation can increase the extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis risk of PTC, and it is no significantly correlated with tumor size of PTC. The invasiveness of PTC increases with the increased of tumor size, but the PTMC of BRAF gene mutation positive is still require positive treatment.
Objective To investigate the expression level and methylation level of micro RNA-34b（miR-34b） gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma （PTC）， and to analyze the relationship between methylation and clinicopathological characters of PTC. Methods PTC tissues and tumor adjacent tissues were collected from 25 patients with PTC who underwent operation in Huai’an First People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from Sep. 2008 to Oct. 2010. Expression of miR-34b gene and level of methylation in gene promoter were detected by real time PCR and methylation-specific PCR in the 2 kinds of tissues， respectively. Results The expression value of miR-34b mRNA in PTC tissues was 0.85±0.05， which was significantly lower than those of tumor adjacent tissues （1.62±0.09）， P=0.030. There were methylation in 18 （72%，18/25） PTC tissues， and 10 （40%，10/25） in tumor adjacent tissues， and the ratio of methylation was higher in PTC tissues （P=0.021）. In PTC tissues， methylation was not related to age， gender， tumor size， TNM stage， and invasion of the capsule （P＞0.05）， but was related to lymph node metastasis （P＜0.05）. Ratio of methylation in patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than those of patients with no lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Methylation of miR-34b gene promoter is one of the reasons for inactivation of PTC， and it may be related to the development and metastasis of PTC， which needs to be further investigated.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the surgery of thyroid carcinoma in recent years. MethodsLiteratures about the recent studies on categories of SLNB and the neck lymph node dissection conducted by SLNB in the surgery of thyroid carcinoma were reviewed following the results searched from PubMed and CNKI data base. ResultsSLNB has a high detection rate and it is of great significance to detect the occult metastatic lymph nodes and guide the neck lymph node dissection during operation. ConclusionThe SLNB, with its high accuracy rate on the detection of occult metastatic lymph nodes, guides neck lymph node dissection during operation in order that it can maximize the benefits of patients.
ObjectiveTo summarize the role of circular RNA (circRNAs) in thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) and the emphasis of future research.MethodRelevant literatures in recent years about the biological function of circRNA and its role in PTC were reviewed.ResultscircRNAs had abnormal expression in PTC tissues. Besides, by working as miRNA sponges or interacting with RNA-binding proteins, circRNAs regulated the expression of proteins that were associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis, which could affect the biological characteristics of tumor cells.ConclusioncircRNAs are expected to be the biomarkers for early diagnosis of PTC or potential targets for PTC therapy and provid therapeutic bases to prevent PTC.
ObjectiveTo explore a method for establishing a priority-scoring model for thyroid carcinoma patient admission. MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted among specialists and outpatients in the thyroid surgery department of the hospital. The weight coefficient of the index factors was calculated to establish the priority-scoring mode by the analytic hierarchy process. The differences in results between specialists and patients were compared. The logical rationality of the model index was tested. ResultsA priority-scoring model for thyroid carcinoma surgery admission was established, including 10 first-level indicators, such as sex, age, cancer type and TNM stage. The weight coefficients of the indicators from high to low were cancer type (0.137), TNM stage (0.134), tumor size (0.127), tumor invasion degree (0.126), tumor invasion site (0.124), relationship between tumor and capsule (0.111), age (0.093), sex (0.061), place of residence (0.05) and medical insurance type (0.035). After the total ratio test, the model CR value was 0.0073, and the model index was highly rational. ConclusionThis study successfully establish a priority-scoring model for thyroid carcinoma surgery admission, which can provide references and a basis for tiered medical services and relevant researches in the future.
Objective To investigate the value of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) inhibition therapy in postoperative patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Methods One hundred and six patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after total or near-total thyroidectomy were divided into two groups: TSH inhibition therapy group and thyroid hormone replacement therapy group. The non-recurrence and (or) non-metastasis rate in two groups was analyzed retrospectively by Wilcoxon statistical analysis. Results The non-recurrence and (or) non-metastasis rate of 3-， 5- and 10-year in TSH inhibition therapy group were 98.31%， 92.41% and 75.45% respectively， and were higher than those (93.57%， 84.18% and 52.06% respectively) in thyroid hormone replacement therapy group （P=0.046 5）. Conclusion TSH inhibition therapy after total or near-total thyroidectomy may be an essential treatment for differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors for central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with clinically negative lymph node (cN0 stage) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).MethodsThe clinicopathological data of 250 patients with cN0 PTC who underwent thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection (CLND) in Department of General Surgery of Xuzhou Central Hospital from June 2016 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The influencing factors of CLNM in patients with cN0 PTC were analyzed by univariate analysis and binary logistic regression, and then R software was used to establish a nomogram prediction model, receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the differentiation degree of the model, and Bootstrap method was used for internal verification to evaluate the calibration degree of the model.ResultsCLNM occurred in 147 of 250 patients with cN0 PTC, with an incidence of 58.8%. Univariate analysis showed that multifocal, bilateral, tumor diameter, and age were correlated with CLNM (P<0.01). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that multifocal, bilateral tumors, age≥45 years old, and tumor diameter>1 cm were independent risk factors for CLNM in patients with cN0 PTC (P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram prediction model established on this basis was 0.738, and the calibration prediction curve in the calibration diagram fitted well with the ideal curve.ConclusionsCLNM is more likely to occur in PTC. The nomogram model constructed in this study can be used as an auxiliary means to predict CLNM in clinical practice.
ObjectiveTo detect the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and PTC with coexistent Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) tissues, and to explore its clinical significance of its expression.MethodsThe PTC patients who underwent thyroidectomy at the Thyroid Surgery Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from March 2017 to May 2019 were retrospectively collected. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of PD-L1 in the PTC tissues, PD-L1 staining positive cells ≥20% was judged as positive expression, <20% was judged as negative expression. The relationship between PD-L1 positive expression rate and clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with PTC were analyzed, and the correlation between the presence of HT in PTC tissues and PD-L1 positive expression was studied.ResultsA total of 138 patients with PTC were included in this study, including 104 patients with PTC alone and 34 PTC patients with coexistent HT. The positive rate of PD-L1 expression in the 138 cases of PTC tissues was 35.5% (49/138), among which was 43.3% (45/104) in the pure PTC tissues, and 11.8% (4/34) in the PTC tissues with HT, the latter was significantly lower than the former (P=0.001). The results of univariate analysis showed that the positive rate of PD-L1 expression was related to the tumor size, the presence or absence of extraglandular invasion and HT in PTC patients (P<0.05), and the results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the positive rate of PD-L1 expression was positively correlated with tumor size (rs=0.173, P=0.041) and extraglandular invasion (rs=0.197, P=0.021), and negatively correlated with whether TH was merged (rs=–0.284, P=0.001). The multivariate analysis results showed that the positive rate of PD-L1 expression was closely related to whether PTC with coexistent HT [OR=5.720, 95%CI (1.879, 17.411), P=0.002], and it was not found to be related to tumor size and presence of extraglandular invasion (P>0.05).ConclusionsPositive rate of PD-L1 expression has a certain relationship with tumor size and presence or absence of extraglandular invasion, and which in PTC patients with or without HT is significantly different, that is, positive rate of PD-L1 expression in PTC with HT is lower suggests that coexistent HT might be an inhibitory factor in occurrence of PTC, and immune microenvironment-related factors of PTC might be involved in occurrence and development of thyroid cancer.
Objective To study the clinical value ofNa＋/I－ symporter (NIS) expression on thyroid carcinoma diagnosis and 131I therapeutic effects prediction. Methods Thirty-one cases of thyroid carcinomas enrolled in this hospital from 1998 to 2006 were included. Using immunohistochemical method, NIS expression location, positive cell staining and expression intensity were observed, which was calculated by immunohistochemical scores (IHS) and NIS expression level was compared between primary and metastatic carcinoma. Results NIS was over-expressed on the basolateral membrane in positive control——Grave disease tissue, and showed no staining in negative control. NIS was expressed in cytoplasm in all 31 primary carcinomas, and IHS was over or equaled to 4 in 80.65% of them. Except for 2 no staining, NIS was expressed in cytoplasm in the rest 28 metastatic carcinomas. NIS expression was related to the pathological type of thyroid carcinoma, the best in PTC, then FTC, and the weakest in fvPTC. NIS expression in metastatic carcinoma was related to that in primary carcinoma.Conclusion NIS is over-expressed in cytoplasm in most thyroid carcinoma, and the iodide uptaking defect is mainly due to its wrong location. It has great potential to be applied in clinic by that it can help with the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid diseases, especially between FTA and FTC, and that it can help predict the therapeutic effects of 131I therapy following thyroid operation.