[Thyroglobulin mRNA amplification in peripheral blood of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: what does it really mean?].
Despite the excellent prognosis, differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) may recur in 20-40%, and prognosis is particularly related to early detection of recurrent disease. Therefore, long-term follow-up with sensitive tests is need. Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) has an established role as a tumor marker of relapse. However, there are technical limitations of Tg immunoassays, in special, the interference of anti-Tg antibodies and the method sensitivity is dependent on TSH stimulation. Detection of circulating malignant cells by amplification of tumor-specific mRNA showed initial promising results. However, almost one decade of studies of Tg mRNA detection in peripheral blood, its real contribution for DTC follow-up had not yet been established. After a critical analysis of published data, it is clear that there are many protocol differences and conflicting results. Therefore, it seems that amplification of thyroid-specific mRNAs is not superior to sensitive Tg assays and illegitimate transcription and alternative splicing of Tg are factors that may influence mRNA test specificity.
Coelho
Sabrina Mendes
SM
Serviço de Endocrinologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Potiguara 325/104, 22750-290 Rio de Janeiro, RJ. sabrinacoelho@globo.com
Vaisman
Mário
M
de Carvalho
Denise Pires
DP
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013954:Thyroglobulin