Differentiated thyroid carcinoma: An update

Comparative Analysis of AI-SONICTM Thyroid System and Six Thyroid Risk Stratification Guidelines in Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Aim

The study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of AI-SONICTM Thyroid System (AI-SONICTM) with six thyroid nodule ultrasound risk stratification systems, as well as the interobserver agreement among different-year ultrasound examiners using the same diagnostic approach.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients who underwent thyroid ultrasound examination and surgery between 2010 and 2022. Three ultrasound examiners with 2, 5, and 10 years of experience, respectively, used AI-SONICTM and six guidelines to risk-stratify the nodules. The diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement were assessed.

Results

A total of 370 thyroid nodules were included, including 195 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) and 175 benign nodules. For physicians of varying seniority from low to high, AI-SONICTM had a moderate sensitivities of 82.56%, 83.08%, 84.62%, respectively, while AACE/ACE/AME had the highest diagnostic sensitivities (96.41%, 95.38%, 96.41%, respectively); And relatively higher specificities were 85.14%, 85.71%, 85.71% for KSThR, while moderate specificities with values of 84.0%, 85.14%, and 85.71%, respectively were found for AI-SONICTM; The accuracy was highest for ATA (excluding non-classifiable nodules), with values of 87.26%, 87.93%, and 88.82%, respectively, while the accuracy for AI-SONICTM were 83.24%, 84.05%, and 85.14%, respectively. The Kendall's tau coefficient indicated strong or moderate interobserver agreement among all examiners using different diagnostic methods (Kendall's tau coefficient >0.6, P<0.001). AI-SONICTM showed the highest interobserver agreement (Kendall's tau coefficient=0.995, P<0.001). A binary probit regression analysis showed that nodules with cystic components had a significantly higher regression coefficient value of 0.983 (P=0.002), indicating that AI-SONICTM may have higher accuracy for nodules with cystic components.

Conclusion

AI-SONICTM and the six thyroid nodule ultrasound risk stratification systems showed high diagnostic performance for papillary thyroid carcinoma. All examiners showed strong or moderate interobserver agreement when using different diagnostic methods. AI-SONICTM may have higher accuracy for nodules with cystic components.

Simultaneous occurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and lymphoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer, the coexistence of PTC and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is uncommon. While the simultaneous occurrence of both cancers with small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in lymph nodes with PTC metastasis is very rare. This study presents a unique case of concurrent PTC, MTC, and SLL, highlighting the exceptional rarity of these coexisting tumors.

METHODS

A 75-year-old female with a thyroid tumor underwent total thyroidectomy, bilateral central neck lymph node dissection, and right radical neck lymph node dissection. Histopathological examination revealed a low-grade medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in the left lobe and classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the right lobe, with PTC metastasis in the cervical lymph nodes and concurrent SLL in the affected lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Coexistence of PTC, MTC and SLL in the same patient is rare, there are currently no standardized treatment guidelines due to the limited literature. However, it is essential to consider not only the treatment for each type of tumor but also the potential risks or conflicts associated with the treatments. In the case reported in this paper, the papillary carcinoma invaded the capsule of the right lobe of the thyroid and metastasized to the cervical lymph nodes, warranting radioactive iodine therapy. However, considering the potential negative impact of radioactive iodine on the pre-existing lymphoma, the radioactive iodine therapy was postponed. Meanwhile, constant monitoring of calcitonin and thyroid globulin should be performed to monitor tumor recurrence as was performed in the present case.

CONCLUSION

Since MTC, PTC, and SLL may coexist, patients with PTC deserve careful surveillance for the other disease entities. This case underscores the need for heightened awareness among clinicians, radiologists, and pathologists regarding the possibility of concurrent thyroid tumors and abnormal lymph nodes, guiding comprehensive pre-operative evaluations and postoperative monitoring strategies. This study aims to provide a warning for routine pathological diagnosis and contribute data for related research.

A bibliometric analysis of follicular thyroid carcinoma: Current situation, hot spots, and global trends

BACKGROUND

Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), the second most prevalent thyroid cancer after papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), tends to metastasize distantly, leading to poorer outcomes. Despite substantial research, a holistic bibliometric analysis of FTC literature is lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by employing bibliometric methods to track FTC research evolution.

METHODS

English FTC publications were systematically gathered from the Web of Science. Bibliometric analysis, using R, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Excel, synthesized data and explored global research trends and topics.

RESULTS

From 2000 to 2023, 9086 authors from 1953 institutions across 75 countries contributed to 1776 papers in 491 academic journals on FTC. The last two decades have witnessed a steady increase in publications related to FTC, with the United States leading in terms of publication volume. The United States dominated both in publications and citations, with the National Cancer Institute and Sheue-Yann Cheng as leading contributors. The journal 'Thyroid' featured the most publications, while the 'Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism' ranked highest in citation frequency. Research focused on gene expression analysis and preoperative diagnostics, with recent trends shifting toward prognosis management and machine learning due to advances in medical technology and increased health awareness.

CONCLUSION

This comprehensive bibliometric analysis has mapped the landscape of FTC research, highlighting key contributors, institutions, and thematic trends. Current discourse predominantly revolves around genetic analysis, prognostic determinants, and preoperative diagnostics in FTC. This foundational work guides future FTC research, providing insights into its evolution.

Initial versus Staged Thyroidectomy for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Multi-Dimensional Cohort Analysis of Effectiveness and Safety

The optimal surgical approach for differentiated thyroid cancer remains controversial, with debate regarding the comparative risks of upfront total thyroidectomy versus staged completion thyroidectomy following the initial lobectomy. This study aimed to assess the complication rates associated with these two strategies and identify the optimal timing for completion thyroidectomy using a multi-dimensional analysis of four cohorts: an institutional series (n = 148), the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database (n = 39,992), the TriNetX repository (n > 30,000), and a pooled literature review (10 studies, n = 6015). Institutional data revealed higher overall complication rates with total thyroidectomy (18.3%) compared to completion thyroidectomy (6.8%), primarily due to increased temporary hypocalcemia (10% vs. 0%, p = 0.004). The NSQIP analysis demonstrated that total thyroidectomy was associated with a 72% increased risk of transient hypocalcemia (p < 0.001) and a 25% increased risk of permanent hypocalcemia (p < 0.001). TriNetX data confirmed these findings and identified obesity and concurrent neck dissection as risk factors for complications. A meta-analysis showed that total thyroidectomy increased the rates of transient (RR = 1.63) and permanent (RR = 1.23) hypocalcemia (p < 0.001). Institutional and TriNetX data suggested that performing completion thyroidectomy between 1 and 6 months after the initial lobectomy minimized permanent complication rates compared to delays beyond 6 months. In conclusion, for differentiated thyroid cancer, total thyroidectomy is associated with higher risks of transient and permanent hypocalcemia compared to staged completion thyroidectomy. However, performing completion thyroidectomy within 1-6 months of the initial lobectomy may mitigate the risk of permanent complications. These findings can inform personalized surgical decision-making for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Germline polymorphisms of the NOD2 pathway may predict the effectiveness of radioiodine in differentiated thyroid cancer treatment

PURPOSE

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) presents a complex clinical challenge, especially in patients with distant metastases and resistance to standard treatments. This study aimed to investigate the influence of specific genes and their germline single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to both inflammatory processes and other neoplasms on the clinical and pathological characteristics of DTC, particularly their potential impact on radioiodine (RAI) treatment efficacy.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis involved a cohort of 646 patients diagnosed with DTC after thyroidectomy. Study covering 1998-2014, updated in 2023, included 567 women and 79 men (median age: 49; range: 7-83). SNP selection targeted functional significance, while mutational status was assessed by pyrosequencing for comprehensive characterization. Patient genetic profiles were assessed for associations with disease characteristics, RAI response, and cancer pathology.

RESULTS

Significant correlations emerged between certain SNPs and DTC features. Notably, the NOD2 c.802 T > C variant (rs2066842) was identified as a marker distinguishing between papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and follicular thyroid cancer (FTC). Moreover, the c.802 T allele was associated with an enhanced response to RAI treatment, indicating a more substantial decrease in posttreatment stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) concentrations. The NFKB1A allele c.126A (rs696) exhibited connections with lower FTC stages and a reduced probability of multifocality.

CONCLUSION

This study explored the molecular mechanisms of particular SNPs, highlighting the role of NOD2 in innate immunity and the stress response, and its potential impact on RAI efficacy. This research underscores the clinical promise of SNP analysis and contributes to personalized treatment strategies for DTC, emphasizing the relevance of genetic factors in cancer progression and treatment outcomes.

Active surveillance of nodal metastasis in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Cervical lymph nodes (LN) represent the most common site of recurrence in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), frequently requiring repeated interventions that contribute to increase morbidity to a usually indolent disease. Data on active surveillance (AS) of nodal metastasis are limited. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate AS in nodal metastasis of DTC patients.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched up to July 2023 for studies including DTC patients with metastatic LN who were followed up with AS. The primary outcome was disease progression, according to the study's definition. Additional outcomes were LN enlargement ≥3 mm, occurrence of new cervical metastasis, and conversion from AS to surgical treatment.

RESULTS

The search identified 375 studies and seven were included, comprising 486 patients with metastatic nodal DTC. Most were female (69.5%) and had papillary thyroid cancer (99.8%). The mean AS follow-up ranged from 28-86 months. Following each study's definition of progression, the pooled incidence was 28% [95% confidence interval (CI), 20-37%]. The pooled incidence of LN growth ≥ 3 mm was 21% [95% CI, 17-25%] and the emergence of new LN sites was 19% [95% CI, 14-25%]. Combining growth of 3 mm and the emergence of new LN criteria, we found an incidence of 26% [95% CI, 20-33%]. The incidence of neck dissection during AS was 18% [95% CI, 12-26%].

CONCLUSIONS

AS seems to be a suitable strategy for selected DTC patients with small nodal disease, avoiding or postponing surgical reintervention.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42023438293.

Factors influencing TSH suppression efficacy in postoperative papillary thyroid carcinoma patients: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

While surgery plays a crucial role in treating papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the potential effects of subsequent TSH suppression therapy on prognosis should not be overlooked. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence postoperative TSH suppression therapy in patients with PTC.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective cohort study conducted at our hospital. It included 268 patients who underwent surgery and were pathologically diagnosed with PTC between February 2019 and February 2021. The selected patients received postoperative TSH suppression therapy. Based on the TSH level measured 12 months after surgery, the patients were divided into two groups: TSH level conforming group (n = 80) and non-conforming group (n = 188). We then compared the general clinical data, clinicopathological characteristics, preoperative laboratory test indicators, postoperative levothyroxine sodium tablet dosage, follow-up frequency, and thyroid function-related indicators between the two groups of patients. The correlation between the observed indicators and the success of TSH suppression therapy was further analyzed, leading to the identification of influencing factors for TSH suppression therapy.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in general clinical data and clinicopathological characteristics between the two groups of patients (P > 0.05). The proportion of patients with preoperative TSH ≥ 2.0 mU/L was higher in the non-conforming group compared to the TSH level conforming group (P < 0.05), and the ROC curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve for the preoperative TSH index was 0.610 (P < 0.05). The proportion of patients in the TSH level conforming group who took oral levothyroxine sodium tablets at a dose of ≥ 1.4 µg/kg·d after surgery was higher (P < 0.05). The postoperative levels of FT3 and FT4 were higher in the TSH level conforming group (P < 0.05). The results of binary logistic regression analysis indicated that factors "Postoperative TSH level ≥ 2 mU/L", "Levothyroxine sodium tablet dose<1.4 µg/kg·d", and "Combined with Hashimoto thyroiditis" were significantly associated with an elevated risk of postoperative TSH levels failing to reach the target (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Optimal thyroid function in patients with PTC post-surgery is best achieved when adjusting the dose of levothyroxine sodium in a timely manner to reach the target TSH level during follow-up visits.

Diffuse Bone Uptake of 131 I and Effect on Blood Counts in a Patient With Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

ABSTRACT

A 57-year-old woman with history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia was referred to our center for adjuvant 131 I therapy following complete thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer. Posttherapeutic scintigraphy revealed atypical diffuse osteomedullar uptake. A major drop in lymphocyte count was observed, from 117.7 g/L to 4.8 g/L 8 weeks after 131 I therapy. Bone marrow uptake is presumed to be related to tracer sequestration in leukemic cells. White blood cell count normalization suggests a high sensitivity of leukemic cells to beta emission. This scintigraphic pattern may act as a pitfall for nuclear medicine physician.

Imprinted gene detection effectively improves the diagnostic accuracy for papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most frequent histological type of thyroid carcinoma. Although an increasing number of diagnostic methods have recently been developed, the diagnosis of a few nodules is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive prediction model to optimize the diagnosis of PTC.

METHODS

A total of 152 thyroid nodules that were evaluated by postoperative pathological examination were included in the development and validation cohorts recruited from two centres between August 2019 and February 2022. Patient data, including general information, cytopathology, imprinted gene detection, and ultrasound features, were obtained to establish a prediction model for PTC. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with a bidirectional elimination approach was performed to identify the predictors and develop the model.

RESULTS

A comprehensive prediction model with predictors, such as component, microcalcification, imprinted gene detection, and cytopathology, was developed. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the developed model were 0.98, 97.0%, 89.5%, and 94.4%, respectively. The prediction model also showed satisfactory performance in both internal and external validations. Moreover, the novel method (imprinted gene detection) was demonstrated to play a role in improving the diagnosis of PTC.

CONCLUSION

The present study developed and validated a comprehensive prediction model for PTC, and a visualized nomogram based on the prediction model was provided for clinical application. The prediction model with imprinted gene detection effectively improves the diagnosis of PTCs that are undetermined by the current means.

tRF-1:30-Gly-CCC-3 inhibits thyroid cancer via binding to PC and modulating metabolic reprogramming

tRFs and tiRNAs (tRNA-derived fragments) are an emerging class of small noncoding RNAs produced by the precise shearing of tRNAs in response to specific stimuli. They have been reported to regulate the pathological processes of numerous human cancers. However, the biofunction of tRFs and tiRNAs in the development and progression of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has not been reported yet. In this study, we aimed to explore the biological roles of tRFs and tiRNAs in PTC and discovered that a novel 5'tRNA-derived fragment called tRF-1:30-Gly-CCC-3 (tRF-30) was markedly down-regulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. Functionally, tRF-30 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of PTC cells. Mechanistically, tRF-30 directly bound to the biotin-dependent enzyme pyruvate carboxylase (PC), downregulated its protein level, interfered with the TCA cycle intermediate anaplerosis, and thus affected metabolic reprogramming and PTC progression. These findings revealed a novel regulatory mechanism for tRFs and a potential therapeutic target for PTC.

How to Manage Advanced Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Step-by-Step Analysis from Two Italian Tertiary Referral Centers

BACKGROUND

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) has an excellent prognosis; however, advanced disease is associated with a worse prognosis and is relatively common. Surgery followed by RAI treatment remains the mainstream treatment for a large majority of patients with high- and intermediate-risk DTC, but its benefits should be carefully weighed against the potential for harm. The aim of this paper is to critically review the experience in treating advanced DTC at two tertiary referral centers in Italy.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 300 patients who underwent surgery for ADTC over 30 years.

RESULTS

The complication rate was 50.33%. A total of 135 patients (45%) remained at regular follow-up, 118 (87.4%) were alive, while 17 (12.6%) were deceased. The mean overall survival at 12 years was 84.8% with a mean of 238 months. Eleven patients (8.1%) experienced a relapse after a median of 13 months.

CONCLUSIONS

ADTC patients adequately treated can achieve prolonged survival even in the case of metastasis or disease relapse. Patients with ADTC should be referred to high-volume centers with the availability of an extended multidisciplinary team to receive tailored treatment.

Can Unilateral Therapeutic Central Lymph Node Dissection Be Performed in Papillary Thyroid Cancer with Lateral Neck Metastasis?

Objectives

Unilateral or bilateral prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is still controversial. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for contralateral paratracheal lymph node metastasis and whether CND might be performed unilaterally.

Methods

Prospectively collected data of patients who underwent bilateral CND and lateral neck dissection (LND) with thyroidectomy due to PTC with lateral metastases, between January 2012 and November 2019, were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (Group 1) and absence (Group 2) of metastasis in the contralateral paratracheal region.A total of 42 patients (46 ±15.7 years) were operated. In the contralateral paratracheal region, Group 1 (35.7%) had metastases, while Group 2 (64.3%) had no metastases. In groups 1 and 2, metastasis rates were 100% vs 77.8% (p=0.073), 46.7% vs 18.5% (p=0.078), and 80% vs 40.7% (p=0.023) for the ipsilateralparatracheal, prelaryngeal and pretracheal lymph nodes, respectively.The number of metastatic lymph nodes in the central region was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 as; 10.7±8.4 vs. 2.6±2.4 (p=0.001) in bilateral central region material; 8.3±7.4 vs. 2.9±2.7 (p=0.001) in lateral metastasis with ipsilateral unilateral central region; 3.8±3.4 vs. 1.9±1.9 (p=0.023) in ipsilateralparatracheal area; and 3.7±4.6 vs. 0.6±0.9 (p=0.001) in pretracheal region, respectively. However, no significant difference was found regarding the prelaryngeal region material (0.9±1.8 vs. 0.2±0.4 (p=0.71)).

Results

>2 metastatic central lymph nodes in unilateral CND material (AUC: 0.814, p<0.001, J=0.563) can estimate contralateral paratracheal metastasis with 93% sensitivity, 63% specificity, while >2 pretracheal metastatic lymph nodes (AUC: 0.795, p<0.001, J: 0.563) can estimate contralateral paratracheal metastasis with 60% sensitivity and 96.3% specificity.

Conclusion

In patients with lateral metastases, the rate of ipsilateralparatracheal metastasis is 85%, while the rate of contralateral paratracheal metastasis is 35.7%. The number of ipsilateral central region or pretracheal lymph node metastases may be helpful in predicting contralateral paratracheal lymph node metastases. Notably, unilateral CND may be performed in the presence of ≤ 2 metastases in the ipsilateral central region.

Differentiated Thyroid Cancers in Young Adults Versus Children: Clinical Characteristics and 10-year Follow-up Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in young adults has been steadily rising in incidence over the decades. However, data on long-term outcomes in this specific cohort remain limited. In this study, we intended to evaluate young adults with DTC with regard to their clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes and compare the same vis-à-vis pediatric patients with DTC.

METHODS

Data of pediatric (≤18 years) and young adult (19-39 years) patients with DTC, from 1971 to 2016, were sequentially extracted and analyzed for clinical characteristics, treatment responses, rates of recurrent/persistent disease, and disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

A total of 1803 patients with DTC were included (pediatric cohort: n = 176; young adult cohort: n = 1627). Pediatric patients with DTC had more frequent adverse baseline features including extrathyroidal extension (P = .040), nodal and distant metastases, and American Thyroid Association high-risk disease (P < .001 each). At 2 years posttreatment, young adult patients with DTC had significantly lower incomplete responses compared with pediatric patients with DTC (223/1627; 13.7% vs 94/176, 53.4%, respectively; P < .001). Over a median follow-up of 10.7 years, 120/1627 (7.4%) young adult patients with DTC had recurrent/persistent disease vs 23/176 (13.1%) pediatric patients with DTC (P = .012). The 10-year DFS probability was 93.6% for the young adult patients with DTC vs 88.7% for the pediatric patients with DTC (P = .007). American Thyroid Association high-risk disease and incomplete response at 2 years were independent predictors of significantly worse DFS in the young adult cohort (P < .001 each).

CONCLUSIONS

Young adult DTCs behave less aggressively compared with their pediatric counterparts with excellent long-term outcomes. Appropriate initial and dynamic risk stratification can help optimize treatment decisions and follow-up strategies.

Radioiodine versus no radioiodine outcomes in low-risk differentiated thyroid cancers: A propensity-score matched analysis

OBJECTIVE

The 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines recommend against radioiodine (RAI) ablation for patients with low-risk papillary microcarcinoma. However, its role in other low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients remains controversial. Here, we compare long-term outcomes with RAI versus no-RAI in a large cohort comprising all low-risk DTCs.

METHODS

Patients with low-risk, histologically-proven DTC post-thyroidectomy, treated with RAI or kept on follow-up without RAI, between 1990 and 2019 were included. The main outcomes included recurrence rate and recurrence-free survival (RFS), and were validated by propensity-score matching analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 2074 low-risk DTC patients (median age: 35 years), 1686 patients underwent RAI-ablation (RAI group), while 388 patients underwent no-RAI follow-up (NOI group). Over a median follow-up of 8 years (range: 3-29), the recurrence rates were similar between the RAI and NOI groups (2.0% vs. 3.3%, p = .161). The 5- and 10-year RFS probabilities were 99.2% and 97.4%, respectively in RAI group versus 98.4% and 96.2%, respectively, in NOI group (p = .055). Subgroup regression analyses showed that patients with age <55 years (p = .044), male sex (p = .015), papillary histology (p = .043), pT3a tumours (p = .049) and postoperative thyroglobulin ≥5 ng/mL (p = .002) had significantly better RFS with RAI compared to NOI follow-up. Propensity-score matching generated 776 matched pairs with no significantly different outcomes between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In low-risk DTC patients post-thyroidectomy, RAI ablation does not confer significant survival advantage over no-RAI follow-up. Further studies are required to demonstrate any long-term benefit with RAI, specifically in patients with tumour size >4 cm and elevated postoperative thyroglobulin.

The potential role of reprogrammed glucose metabolism: an emerging actionable codependent target in thyroid cancer

Although the incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing year by year, most patients, especially those with differentiated thyroid cancer, can usually be cured with surgery, radioactive iodine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression. However, treatment options for patients with poorly differentiated thyroid cancers or radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer have historically been limited. Altered energy metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancer and a well-documented feature in thyroid cancer. In a hypoxic environment with extreme nutrient deficiencies resulting from uncontrolled growth, thyroid cancer cells utilize "metabolic reprogramming" to satisfy their energy demand and support malignant behaviors such as metastasis. This review summarizes past and recent advances in our understanding of the reprogramming of glucose metabolism in thyroid cancer cells, which we expect will yield new therapeutic approaches for patients with special pathological types of thyroid cancer by targeting reprogrammed glucose metabolism.

LncRNA SOCS2-AS1 promotes the progression of papillary thyroid cancer by destabilizing p53 protein

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to contribute to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, neither the dysregulation nor the functions of anti-sense lncRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) have been exhaustively studied. In this study, we accessed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and discovered that the natural antisense lncRNA SOCS2-AS1 is highly expressed in PTC and that patients with a higher level of SOCS2-AS1 had a poor prognosis. Furthermore, loss- and gain-function assays demonstrated that SOCS2-AS1 promotes PTC cell proliferation and growth both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we demonstrated that SOCS2-AS1 regulates the rate of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in PTC cells. Analysis of the mechanism revealed that SOCS2-AS1 binds to p53 and controls its stability in PTC cell lines. Overall, our findings showed that the natural antisense lncRNA SOCS2-AS1 stimulates the degradation of p53 and enhances PTC cell proliferation and the FAO rate.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma associated with non‑functioning parathyroid carcinoma with Warthin's tumor of the parotid gland: A case report and brief literature review

Multiple neck pathologies occurring simultaneously are a rare condition. The present study describes an extremely rare case of papillary thyroid carcinoma, non-functioning parathyroid carcinoma (PC) and Warthin's tumor of the parotid gland. A 59-year-old male presented with a 3-month history of anterior neck swelling. The neck ultrasound revealed a left-sided thyroid nodule associated with pathological lymph nodes. There was a parotid gland mass. A fine-needle aspiration of the left parotid mass was not diagnostic, although the left thyroid nodule revealed a malignancy with metastasis to the left cervical group lymph nodes. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy, left central and left lateral cervical lymph node dissection. A superficial parotidectomy was also performed. A histopathological examination revealed three different pathologies: Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, PC and Warthin's tumor. The simultaneous occurrence of a Warthin's tumor, papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and PC is an unusual condition. The concurrent findings of these three pathologies have not yet been reported in the literature, at least to the best of our knowledge. The synchronous findings of PTC, non-functioning PC and Warthin's tumor are extremely rare, yet possible. Surgical intervention remains the most appropriate treatment strategy.

Probiotic Bacteria Cannot Mitigate the Adverse Effects of Radioactive Iodine-131 Treatment

Thyroid carcinoma is the most common cancer of the endocrine system, accounting for 12% of all cancer cases in adolescents in the United States. Radioiodine therapy plays a key role in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) treatment. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was aimed at evaluating the effect of probiotics supplementation in reducing the acute side-effects of radioiodine therapy in PTC patients. Fifty-six patients were randomly divided into four groups: one placebo and three intervention groups. The probiotics product used in this study was LactoCare (ZistTakhmir Co., Tehran, Iran), a multi-strain commercially available symbiotic containing 12 strains of probiotic species including Lactobacillus strains, Bifidobacteria strains, and Streptococcus thermophilus, plus Fructo-oligosaccharides as the prebiotic. Group 0 was our placebo group (no probiotics), while the other three groups received probiotics capsules for 2/4 days, starting only 2 days prior to radioiodine therapy, only 4 days after radioiodine therapy or 2 days prior and 4 days after radioiodine therapy. Six patients were withdrawn during the study because of poor compliance or at their own request. The symptoms reported by patients including data about the incidence and duration of each complication were recorded. The probiotics' effectiveness was confirmed for dry mouth and taste loss or change when it was administered prior to the radioiodine treatment. The benefit was not confirmed for other radiation-induced complications such as pain and swelling in the neck, nausea and vomiting, salivary gland swelling, and diarrhea. Further large-scale clinical trials are warranted to improve our knowledge in this quickly evolving field.