title: Serum oncofetal fibronectin (onfFN) mRNA in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC): large overlap between disease-free and metastatic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed if onfFN mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with DTC can identify individuals with metastatic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of onfFN mRNA was made among 3 groups: disease-free, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis using real-time RT-PCR on 5 ml blood samples from each DTC patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients were included: 30 (59%) were disease-free; 7 (13.7%) had lymph node metastasis; and 14 (27.5%) had distant metastasis. OnfFN mRNA levels in the 3 groups were significantly different (P=0.001) but with a large overlap and the expression being highest in the disease-free group. Subgroup analysis of the metastatic groups did not show any effect of age, cell type, and serum TSH, Tg, and antiTg on onfFN mRNA. The within-run and between-run root mean square coefficients of variations were <2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OnfFN mRNA in patients with DTC cannot identify those with metastatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. racri@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Chanika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sritara
authors.forename: Putthiporn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Charoenphun
authors.forename: Mathurose
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponglikitmongkol
authors.forename: Suchawadee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Musikarat
authors.forename: Chirawat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Utamakul
authors.forename: Payap
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chokesuwattanasakul
authors.forename: Ammarin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thakkinstian
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C121542:oncofetal fibronectin; D013954:Thyroglobulin