MiR-324-5p assists ultrasonography in predicting lymph node metastasis of unifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma without extracapsular spread.

Yanhua Yang,Lei Ye,Shujun Xia,Weiwei Zhan,Xiaofeng Ni,Zhongxin Ni,Yanjun Kong,Lu Zhang,Yan Wang,Wenhan Wang

doi:10.18632/oncotarget.19717

Abstract

Ultrasonography is the first choice of lymph node metastasis (LNM) detection which is crucial for therapeutic options of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, the sensitivity of ultrasonography in detecting LNM of PTC is relatively low; especially in central LNM. MiR-324-5p has been reported to play important roles in the metastasis of various cancers. To explore the relationship between miR-324-5p and LNM in PTC, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed in PTC tissue and fine needle aspiration (FNA) washout successively. Its correlation with LNM of PTC was analyzed. The clinicopathological and sonographic factors relating to LNM were also studied. Additionally, the function assay of miR-324-5p in PTC cells was conducted. Current study demonstrated that age was an independent protective factor and multifocality, advanced TNM stage, increased transverse diameter of thyroid nodule, ultrasound suspected LNM were independent risk factors of LNM. MiR-324-5p promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of PTC cell line. MiR-324-5p could serve as a candidate predictor along with ultrasonography in predicting LNM, especially central LNM of unifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma without extracapsular spread.

Highlights

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common type which accounts for 85% to 90% of all thyroid cancers [1,2,3,4,5]
Ultrasonography is the first choice of lymph node metastasis (LNM) detection which is crucial for therapeutic options of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC)
A/T≥1, microcalcification, ultrasound suspected LNM (US-LNM) was significantly correlated with LNM

Summary

Introduction

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common type which accounts for 85% to 90% of all thyroid cancers [1,2,3,4,5]. Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an indicator of PTC recurrence and is directly related to the extent of thyroid cancer surgery [8,9,10,11]. Radioiodine (RAI) therapy may be not effective in cases that do not have adequate radioiodine uptake (131I-refractory) or have 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) positive metastases [11]. Ultrasound (US) is a valuable tool for thyroid cancer screening as well as LNM detection [12,13,14,15,16]. It is pivotal to find out an effective molecular marker to assist in LNM prediction, especially in cN0 patients if such data would be expected to alter initial surgical decision making and achieve personalized treatment

Methods

Results

Conclusion