Objective The aim of this study is to review the association between long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Method The relevant literatures about lncRNA associated with PTC were retrospectively analyzed and summarized. Results The expression levels of noncoding RNA associated with MAP kinase pathway and growth arrest (NAMA), PTC susceptibility candidate 3 (PTCSC3), BRAF activated non-coding RNA (BANCR), maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), NONHSAT037832, and GAS8-AS1 in PTC tissues were significantly lower than those in non-thyroid carcinoma tissues. The expression levels of ENST00000537266, ENST00000426615, XLOC051122, XLOC006074, HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL), and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in PTC tissues were upregulated in PTC tissues, comparing with the non-thyroid carcinoma tissues. These lncRNAs were possibly involved in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of PTC. Conclusion LncRNAs may provide new insights into the molecular mechanism and gene-targeted therapy of PTC and become new molecular marker for the diagnosis of PTC.
ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and diabetes mellitus (DM), and to provide basis for individualized diagnosis and treatment.MethodsThe patients who underwent the first thyroid surgery in the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 1, 2017 to September 15, 2020 and were pathologically diagnosed as PTC were collected. According to the presence or absence of DM, the clinical features were compared.ResultsThere were 2859 patients without DM and 133 patients with DM in 2992 patients. In patients with or without DM, there were no differences in lymph node metastasis, multiple, bilateral tumors, and extrathyroid invasion between the two groups (P>0.05). However, compared with the PTC patients without DM, the proportion of women with DM was lower (58.65% versus 76.71%, P<0.01), the proportions of age >55 years old (92.48% versus 66.32%, P<0.01) and capsule invasion (67.21% versus 63.11%, P=0.04) with DM were higer. After adjusting for age and gender, the multivariate analysis showed that the risks of larger tumor and capsular invasion in the patients with DM was 1.51 times [95%CI (1.06, 2.16), P=0.02] and 1.75 times [95%CI (1.16, 2.64), P<0.01] respectively as compared with in the patients without DM.ConclusionsIn PTC patients with DM, proportion of women is lower, proportions of elderly population (age >55 years old) and patients with capsular invasion are higer, tumor is larger. Therefore, patients with DM must not neglect regular examination of thyroid morphology and function, and PTC patients should also pay attention to control of blood glucose.
Objective To detect the expression of KiSS-1 protein in papillary thyroid carcinoma, and to analyze its significance. Methods Paraffin-embedded specimens of 32 patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma and its adjacent cancer tissues were included in this study. Then the expression of KiSS-1 protein was detected by munohistochemistry and its relationship with clinical pathological features was analyzed. Results KiSS-1 protein mainly expressed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. The expression of KiSS-1 protein was positive in adjacent tissues, but decreased or absent in cancer tissues in 32 patients. In the latter, there were 11 cases with positive expression (34.4%) and 21 cases with negative expression (65.6%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=31.256, Plt;0.001). The average value of KiSS-1 protein expression represented by absorbance (A) value (119.595 2) in cancer tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues (174.805 0), t=34.429, Plt;0.001. The expression of KiSS-1 protein in cancer tissues was not related to patient gender (P=0.618) and age (P=0.061), but except TNM staging (P=0.034). The expression rate of KiSS-1 protein in cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis (4/4, 100%) was significantly higher than that without lymph node metastasis (7/28, 25.0%)， P=0.003. Conclusion The expression of KiSS-1 protein is decreased or absent in papillary thyroid carcinoma, which may be involved in tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis.
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 evaluate the pattern and predictive factors of regional lymph node metastasis in papillay thyroid carcinoma (PTC). MethodsThe clinical data of 223 patients with PTC whom suffered operation from Dec.2008 to Dec.2011 in our hospital were retrospective analyzed.The relationship among the lymph node metastasis of different area of the neck and patient's sex, age, preoperative TSH level, tumor size, multifocality, extracapsular spread, Hashimoto thyroiditis, nodular goiter, and the T classification of the tumors were analyzed. ResultsThe univariate analysis results showed that patient's age≥45 years old and associated with nodular goiter were statistically significantly related to central lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), for lateral lymph node metastases, the multifocality were statistically significant (P < 0.05).The multivariate analysis results showed that patient's age≥45 years old and associated with nodular goiter were protective factors for central lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), for lateral lymph node metastasis, the multifocality was risk factor (P < 0.05).Most of the lateral lymph node metastases were confined to levels Ⅱ-Ⅳ, and the incidence of level Ⅲ was as highest as 100%.When the skip metastasis, the levels Ⅱ-Ⅳ were the transfer of high incidence areas. ConclusionsWhen age < 45 years old of patients with PTC, the central neck dissection should be routine performed.The incidence of central lymph node metastasis will decrease if associated with nodular goiter.Because multifocality is a risk factor for lateral lymph node metastasis, careful inspection levels Ⅱ-Ⅳ should be performed during operation, espe-cially level Ⅲ lymph nodes.If skip metastasis is present, levels Ⅱ-Ⅳ dissection would be a proper treatment option.
Objective To investigate influence of iodine-131 (131I) treatment following total thyroidectomy on menstrual rhythm and fertility of childbearing age patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods The clinical data of 342 childbearing age patients with PTC treated with total thyroidectomy from January 2007 to December 2016 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were designed to 131I treatment group (126 cases) and non-131I treatment group (216 cases) according to the postoperative treatment. The menstrual rhythm and pregnancy after operation were regularly followed-up on postoperative 1 month. The age, nationality, occupation, menstrual rhythm, and pregnancy were analyzed by two independent samples t or Chi-square or Fisher test. Results ① There were no significant differences in the age, nationality, and occupation between the 131I treatment group and the non-131I treatment group (P>0.05). ② Compared with the non-131I treatment group, the proportions of the irregular menstruation were significantly increased on the 1st month and 3rd month of follow-up (P<0.05) in the131I treatment group, which had no statistically significant differences on the 6th month and 12th month of follow-up in two groups (P>0.05). Further the analysis results of the age stratification showed that had no significant differences at different follow-up time in these two groups (P>0.05). ③ The success rate of pregnancy also had no significant differences in these two groups both in the general and the age stratification analysis results (P>0.05). Conclusions 131I treatment following total thyroidectomy can affect menstrual rhythm of women in childbearing age at the early stage (within 6 months), but there is no abnormal menstruation on 6 months later, which dosen’t effect on pregnancy in women of childbearing age, and it is recommended that pregnancy should be renewed in 1-year after 131I treatment.
Objective To assess the applied significance of carbon nanoparticles in central compartment lymph node dissection in treatment of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods Sixty-eight patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma who were treated in Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College from May. to Oct. in 2012 were randomly allocated to the control group （n=32） and the carbon nanoparticles trace group （tracer group， n=36）， receiving non-carbon nanoparticles trace and carbon nanoparticles trace respectively. All patients were received total resection of thyroid plus the affected side and （or） contralateral side central compartment lymph node dissection. The lymph node-related indexes（including number of dissected lymph node at Ⅵarea and lymph node metastasis rate at Ⅵarea） and operative indexs （including operation time， blood loss， drainage time， complication， and hospital stay） were collected and compared between the 2 groups. Results There were 205 and 324 dissected lymph node at central compartment in control group and tracer group respectively. The results of postoperative pathology showed that the number of lymph node in central compartment of the tracer group was much more than those of control group （8.99±2.24 vs. 6.41±1.56， P＜0.001）. The metastasis rate of central compartment lymph node were 40.6% （13/32） in control group and 47.2% （17/36） in tracer group， but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups （P=0.762）. But in medial area of laryngeal recurrent nerve， the metastasis rate in the tracer group （38.9%， 14/36） was much higher than those of control group （12.5%， 4/32）， P=0.029. There were no significant differences in the operation time， blood loss， drainage time， hospital stay， and complication incidence such as bleeding， temporary hypocalcemia， and injury of superior laryngeal nerve between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. All the patients in 2 groups had followed-up for 6 months without death， recurrence， and metastasis.Conclusions The lymphatic tracer technique of carbon nanoparticles may improve the number of dissected lymph nodes in central region of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma， without increasing （or prolonging） operation time， intraoperative blood loss， and postoperative hospital stay， and can accurately represent the metastasis of lymph node， thus to make the staging of the tumor accurately and guide postoperative treatment.
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between the expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and sma and mad homologue 4 (Smad4) and their clinicopathological features in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).MethodsEighty patients with PTC confirmed by pathology in the Pingdingshan Second People’s Hospital from March 2018 to March 2020 were selected as the research objects, the cancer tissues and adjacent tissues removed during surgery were collected. The mRNA expression levels of BMP4 and Smad4 were detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The correlation between BMP4 and Smad4 mRNA expression levels was analyzed by Pearson method. The expressions of BMP4 and Smad4 protein were detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between the expressions of BMP4 and Smad4 protein and clinicopathological features of PTC was analyzed.ResultsThe mRNA expression levels of BMP4 and Smad4 in PTC tissues were lower than those in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). Pearson analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between expressions of BMP4 mRNA and Smad4 mRNA in PTC cancer (r=0.660, P<0.05). BMP4 and Smad4 protein were localized in cytoplasm, and the cytoplasm was stained yellow or brown yellow. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression positive rate of BMP4 in cancer tissues of PTC patients was lower than that in adjacent tissues (18.8% vs 97.5%, χ2=101.916, P<0.05), and the expression positive rate of Smad4 protein in cancer tissues of PTC patients was also lower than that in adjacent tissues (11.3% vs 93.8%, χ2=109.173, P<0.05). The expressions of BMP4 and Smad4 protein in PTC patients were correlated with the tumor size, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, degree of infiltration and multiple foci (P<0.05).ConclusionsThe expression levels of BMP4 mRNA and Smad4 mRNA in PTC tissues are decreased, and the expression of BMP4 protein and Smad4 protein are closely related to tumor size, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis, which may be used as new therapeutic targets.
Objective To summarize the research progress on diagnostic criteria of lymph node metastasis in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), and the indication and scope of lateral cervical lymph node dissection (LCLND). Method By searching PubMed and CNKI databases, the related guidelines and literature about the diagnosis and treatment of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in MTC in recent years were obtained and reviewed. Results The metastatic rate of lateral cervical lymph nodes in MTC patients was high. The indication of LCLND was both consensus and controversy. The LCLND of MTC was also controversial, and the focus of controversy mainly focused on the survival rate, recurrence rate, distant metastasis and postoperative complications of patients receiving prophylactic LCLND. Different imaging methods had their own advantages and disadvantages in diagnosing lymph node metastasis of MTC. Nuclear medicine was effective but expensive. Fine needle puncture was also an effective method for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of MTC. At present, calcitonin level, tumor size and lymph node metastasis were still important indicators for evaluating MTC for prophylactic LCLND, but the application of related indications had not been unified. Many scholars recommended comprehensive consideration of various indicators to evaluate whether MTC carried out preventive LCLND. Conclusions The LCLND of MTC needs to be further explored and standardized on the basis of the existing consensus. The focus of prophylactic LCLND should be to improve the survival rate of patients while reducing complications as much as possible.
Objective To establish a predictive model for long-term tumor-specific survival after surgery for patients with intermediate to advanced medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) based on American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging, by using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database. Methods The data of 692 patients with intermediate to advanced MTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection registered in the SEER database during 2004–2017 were extracted and screened, and were randomly divided into 484 cases in the modeling group and 208 cases in the validation group according to 7∶3. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to screen predictors of tumor-specific survival after surgery for intermediate to advanced stage MTC and to develop a Nomogram model. The accuracy and usefulness of the model were tested by using the consistency index (C-index), calibration curve, time-dependent ROC curve and decision curve analysis (DSA). Results In the modeling group, the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that the factors affecting tumor-specific survival after surgery in patients with intermediate to advanced MTC were AJCC TNM staging, age, lymph node ratio (LNR), and tumor diameter, and the Nomogram model was developed based on these results. The modeling group had a C-index of 0.827 and its area under the 5-year and 10-year time-dependent ROC curves were 0.865 [95%CI (0.817, 0.913)], 0.845 [95%CI (0.787, 0.904)], respectively, and the validation group had a C-index of 0.866 and its area under the 5-year and 10-year time-dependent ROC curves were 0.866 [95%CI (0.798, 0.935)] and 0.923 [95%CI (0.863, 0.983)], respectively. Good agreement between the model-predicted 5- and 10-year tumor-specific survival rates and the actual 5- and 10-year tumor-specific survival rates were showed in both the modeling and validation groups. Based on the DCA curve, the new model based on AJCC TNM staging was developed with a significant advantage over the former model containing only AJCC TNM staging in terms of net benefits obtained by patients at 5 years and 10 years after surgery. Conclusion The prognostic model based on AJCC TNM staging for predicting tumor-specific survival after surgery for intermediate to advanced MTC established in this study has good predictive effect and practicality, which can help guide personalized, precise and comprehensive treatment decisions and can be used in clinical practice.