Significance of postoperatively detecting peripheral blood circulating tumor cells in patients with papillary thyroid cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the significance of postoperatively detecting peripheral blood circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods A total of 143 patients diagnosed as having PTC in our department, receiving radical thyroidectomy were analyzed. The CTCBIOPSY D-100 equipment developed by You Zhiyou Medical Technology Co., Ltd. as well as ISET separation technique, were used to count the number of peripheral blood CTCs, and its relationship with the clinical features and prognosis of the patients were analyzed by the statistical method. Results The positive rate of CTCs in all 143 patients with PTC was 58.74%. Statistical analysis showed that the positive rate of peripheral blood CTCs in PTC patients was significantly correlated with TNM stage, tumor’s invasion of muscle and/or recurrent laryngeal nerve, and pathological lymphatic metastasis (P 0.05). Logistic regression statistical analysis indicated that the factors indicating poor prognosis of PTC such as TNM stage, tumor’s invasion of muscle and/or recurrent laryngeal nerve, lymphatic metastasis were independent influencing factors of CTCs [odds ratio (OR): 2.417, 3.168, 3.101, P<0.05]. Conclusion Positive CTCs in the peripheral blood postoperation may indicate a poor prognosis in patients with PTC. Key words: Papillary thyroid cancer; Circulating tumor cells; Tumor recurrence