1
|
Alzahrani AS. Clinical use of Molecular Data in Thyroid Nodules and Cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:2759-2771. [PMID: 37200449 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad282] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 3 decades, advances in the molecular genetics of thyroid cancer (TC) have been translated into diagnostic tests, prognostic markers, and therapeutic agents. The main drivers in differentiated TC pathogenesis are single-point mutations and gene fusions in components of the Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide-3-kinase-protein kinase B/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathways. Other important genetic alterations in the more advanced types of TC include TERT promoter, TP53, EIF1AX, and epigenetic alterations. Using this knowledge, several molecular tests have been developed for cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules. Currently, 3 commercially available tests are in use including a DNA/RNA-based test (ThyroSeq v.3), an RNA-based test (Afirma Gene Sequencing Classifier), and a hybrid DNA/miRNA test, ThyGeNEXT/ThyraMIR. These tests are mostly used to rule out malignancy in Bethesda III and IV thyroid nodules because they all have high sensitivities and negative predictive values. Their common use, predominantly in the United States, has resulted in a significant reduction in unnecessary thyroid surgeries for benign nodules. Some of these tests also provide information on the underlying molecular drivers of TC; this may support decision making in initial TC management planning, although this practice has not yet been widely adopted. More importantly, molecular testing is essential in patients with advanced disease before using specific mono-kinase inhibitors (eg, selpercatinib for RET-altered TC) because these drugs are ineffective in the absence of a specific molecular target. This mini-review discusses the utilization of molecular data in the clinical management of patients with thyroid nodules and TC in these different clinical situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali S Alzahrani
- Department of Medicine and Department of Molecular Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
Molecular diagnostic testing has had a profound impact on the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Based on the tremendous expansion of knowledge of the genomic landscape of thyroid cancer over the past few decades, tests have been developed, analyzed, modified, and implemented into clinical practice. Genomic testing of thyroid nodules to improve preoperative diagnosis has become an important component supporting decision-making in clinical care, reducing the need for diagnostic surgeries and improving accuracy of cancer risk assessment. In addition, a role for molecular testing of established thyroid cancers to assist in selection of therapeutic options for patients with advanced and/or progressive disease has been established. Research is ongoing to determine if molecular results should affect management of less aggressive forms of thyroid cancer earlier in clinical management. This review will outline the various commercial platforms for molecular diagnostics for nodules emphasizing their performance parameters and indications for use, as well as discuss the use of genomic analysis for progressive thyroid cancer and highlight opportunities for further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Sipos
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, 43210, OH, USA
| | - Matthew D Ringel
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Co-leader, Cancer Biology Program, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, 43210, OH, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Siraj AK, Poyil PK, Parvathareddy SK, Alobaisi K, Ahmed SO, Al-Sobhi SS, Al-Dayel F, Al-Kuraya KS. Loss of ZNF677 Expression Is an Independent Predictor for Distant Metastasis in Middle Eastern Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157833. [PMID: 34360599 PMCID: PMC8346014 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer incidence has increased in recent decades. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer. Approximately 30% of PTC patients develop recurrence or distant metastasis and tend to have poor prognosis. Therefore, the identification of targetable biomarkers in this subset of patients is of great importance. Accumulating evidence indicates that zinc finger protein 677 (ZNF677), which belongs to the zinc finger protein family, is an important effector during the progression of multiple malignancies. However, its role in Middle Eastern PTC patients has not been fully illustrated. Here, we uncovered the molecular mechanism and the clinical impact of ZNF677 expression in a large cohort of more than 1200 Middle Eastern PTC and 15 metastatic tissues. We demonstrated that ZNF677 is frequently downregulated in primary PTC (13.6%, 168/1235) and showed that complete loss of expression of ZNF677 is significantly associated with aggressive clinico-pathological markers such as extrathyroidal extension (p = 0.0008) and distant metastases (p < 0.0001). We also found a significantly higher incidence of ZNF677 loss in primary tumors with distant metastases (33.3%; p < 0.0001) as well as in distant metastatic tissues (46.7%; p = 0.0002) compared to the overall cohort (13.6%). More importantly, PTC with loss of ZNF677 expression showed significantly lower metastasis-free survival (p = 0.0090). Interestingly, on multivariate logistic regression analysis, ZNF677 loss was an independent predictor of distant metastasis in PTC (Odds ratio = 2.60, 95% Confidence interval = 1.20–5.62, p = 0.0155). In addition, we found a significant association between ZNF677 loss and phospho-AKT expression (p < 0.0001). Our functional molecular results suggest that ZNF677 acts as a tumor suppressor, mediating its effect by inhibiting AKT phosphorylation. Taken together, our results highlight the pivotal role played by ZNF677 during carcinogenesis and metastasis formation in Middle Eastern PTC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdul K. Siraj
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (A.K.S.); (P.K.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.O.A.)
| | - Pratheesh Kumar Poyil
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (A.K.S.); (P.K.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.O.A.)
| | - Sandeep Kumar Parvathareddy
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (A.K.S.); (P.K.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.O.A.)
| | - Khadija Alobaisi
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (A.K.S.); (P.K.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.O.A.)
| | - Saeeda O. Ahmed
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (A.K.S.); (P.K.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.O.A.)
| | - Saif S. Al-Sobhi
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Fouad Al-Dayel
- Department of Pathology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Khawla S. Al-Kuraya
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (A.K.S.); (P.K.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.O.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-11-205-5167
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rajan N, Khanal T, Ringel MD. Progression and dormancy in metastatic thyroid cancer: concepts and clinical implications. Endocrine 2020; 70:24-35. [PMID: 32779092 PMCID: PMC7530083 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-020-02453-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Distant metastasis classically has been defined as a late-stage event in cancer progression. However, it has become clear that metastases also may occur early in the "lifetime" of a cancer and that they may remain stable at distant sites. This stability of metastatic cancer deposits has been termed "metastatic dormancy" or, as we term it, "metastatic progression dormancy" as the progression either may reflect growth of already existing metastases or new cancer spread. Biologically, dormancy is the presence of nongrowing, static metastatic cells that survive over time. Clinically, dormancy is defined by stability in tumor markers, imaging, and clinical course. Metastatic well-differentiated thyroid cancer offers an excellent tumor type to understand these processes for several reasons: (1) primary therapy often includes removal of the entire gland with ablation of residual normal tissue thereby removing one source for new metastases; (2) the presence of a sensitive biochemical and radiographic monitoring tests enabling monitoring of metastasis throughout the progression process; and (3) its tendency toward prolonged clinical dormancy that can last for years or decades be followed by progression. This latter factor provides opportunities to define therapeutic targets and/or markers of progression. In this review, we will discuss concepts of metastatic progression dormancy and the factors that drive both long-term stability and loss of dormancy with a focus on thyroid cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neel Rajan
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Tilak Khanal
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Matthew D Ringel
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Clinicopathologic and Molecular Features of Metastatic Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma in Patients Presenting With a Thyroid Nodule Versus a Distant Metastasis. Am J Surg Pathol 2019; 43:514-522. [DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|
6
|
Marsh DJ, Eng C. Lessons learnt from outstanding mid-career women in endocrine cancer research. Endocr Relat Cancer 2016; 23:E5-E7. [PMID: 27935806 DOI: 10.1530/erc-16-0406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah J Marsh
- Hormones and Cancer GroupKolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine InstituteCleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Deparment of Genetics and Genome SciencesCase Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Germline High Risk Focus GroupComprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|