Evaluation of genetic biomarkers for distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid neoplasms.
BACKGROUND
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) aids in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. The expression of previously implicated genes was examined to potentially discriminate between benign and malignant thyroid samples.


METHODS
Patients included for study had cytology demonstrating follicular cells of undetermined significance, atypical cells of undetermined significance, follicular neoplasm, or suspicion of malignancy with one of the following postoperative diagnoses: follicular thyroid adenomas, follicular thyroid carcinomas, or follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinomas (FV-PTCs). FNA and tumor expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), high-mobility group A2 (HMGA2), and trefoil factor 3/3-galactoside-binding lectin (T/G ratio) were analyzed.


RESULTS
T/G ratios were not significantly different in the malignant and benign groups. HMGA2 was overexpressed in carcinoma states; however, only FV-PTCs were significant (P = .006). Tumor hTERT expression was detected in 25% of follicular thyroid carcinomas, whereas 5% of FV-PTCs and 10% of follicular thyroid adenomas had expression. FNA aspirates showed similar results.


CONCLUSIONS
Although HMGA2 and hTERT showed differential expression, they did not consistently differentiate benign from malignant. Further study based on global gene expression is needed to identify markers that could serve as a diagnostic tool.
Department of Surgery Beaumont Health System, 3811 West 13 Mile Road, 104-RI, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA. Electronic address: snagar29@gmail.com.
Sapna
S
Nagar
Beaumont BioBank, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
Samreen
S
Ahmed
Department of Surgery Beaumont Health System, 3811 West 13 Mile Road, 104-RI, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA.
Claire
C
Peeples
Department of Surgery Beaumont Health System, 3811 West 13 Mile Road, 104-RI, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA.
Nichole
N
Urban
Department of Biostatistics, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
Judy
J
Boura
Beaumont BioBank, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
Bryan
B
Thibodeau
Department of Surgery Beaumont Health System, 3811 West 13 Mile Road, 104-RI, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA; Beaumont BioBank, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
Jan
J
Akervall
Beaumont BioBank, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
George
G
Wilson
Department of Surgery Beaumont Health System, 3811 West 13 Mile Road, 104-RI, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA.
Graham
G
Long
Department of Surgery Beaumont Health System, 3811 West 13 Mile Road, 104-RI, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA.
Peter
P
Czako
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm
Fine-needle aspiration; Follicular thyroid cancer; Gene expression; Real-time polymerase chain reaction