Abstract
Thyroid cancer is a comparatively rare tumor, which affects 1–5% of women and approximately 2% of men, although it is the most common endocrine malignancy worldwide. Furthermore, the incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing remarkably in the last decades. Currently, diagnosis of thyroid cancer mainly is based on cytological criteria. Although fine needle aspiration is a minimally invasive procedure, complications can occur. Correct diagnosis is mandatory to select patients for surgical intervention and to determine appropriate extent of operation. Overdiagnosis and the associated unnecessary surgery should be avoided as it might also lead to complications. Therefore it is important to practice noninvasive methods not only for early diagnosis of thyroid cancer but also for estimation of prognosis. Liquid biopsy is a promising, noninvasive method that can provide detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as well as circulating nucleic acids such as DNA, mRNA, and microRNA in a blood sample. The aim of the chapter is to highlight the efficacy of liquid biopsy for diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid cancer. The chapter will represent a comprehensive literature review based on recent PubMed publications (mainly 2012–2018).
Highlights
Thyroid cancer is relatively infrequent malignancy, which accounts for about 1–5% of the cancer cases in women and less than 2% in men [1]
Liquid biopsy is a usual blood sampling method, referred to as a noninvasive procedure to detect components of the tumor which circulates in the bloodstream, for example, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free nucleic acids, exosomes, or tumor-educated platelets (TEPs); it can be a promising method in tumor diagnostics prior to surgery, as well as in monitoring of the disease [9]
It is believed that CTC can survive in the bloodstream because of the undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
Summary
Thyroid cancer is relatively infrequent malignancy, which accounts for about 1–5% of the cancer cases in women and less than 2% in men [1]. 88 Liquid Biopsy is estimated to be about 53,070 new cases (40,260 in men and 37,810 in woman), and more than 2000 people will die from the disease [3]. There are no significant rise in thyroid cancer mortality rates, growing detection of indolent forms may lead to overtreatment of the patients by performing unnecessary thyroidectomies [7]. General postoperative complications, such as fever, hemorrhages, infection, or cardiopulmonary and thromboembolic events, as well as specific complicationssuch as hypoparathyroidism/hypocalcemia and vocal cord/fold paralysis can be seen. Liquid biopsy is a usual blood sampling method, referred to as a noninvasive procedure to detect components of the tumor which circulates in the bloodstream, for example, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free nucleic acids, exosomes, or tumor-educated platelets (TEPs); it can be a promising method in tumor diagnostics prior to surgery, as well as in monitoring of the disease [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
