Thyroid Cancer Research Articles

Background: Inhibitors of BRAF (BRAFi) and MEK (MEKi) are often used in advanced BRAF V600E -mutated thyroid cancer (BRAFm-TC), and at least one drug combination is FDA-approved. However, cardiovascular (CV) adverse effects, including hypertension (HTN), are increasingly recognized. Research Question: We examined the incidence of new or worsening HTN during treatment with BRAFi±MEKi and the associated baseline risk factors in patients with BRAFm-TC. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients with BRAFm-TC treated with therapeutic-intent BRAFi±MEKi from Jan 2016-Mar 2024. Development of HTN was defined by initiation of new antihypertensives in patients without a history of HTN, up-titration of existing or addition of new antihypertensives in pre-existing HTN, or documentation of elevated blood pressures (BP≥140/90) in notes. Results: Among 245 patients with a median follow-up of 35.9 months (95%CI 31.4-41.2) (Table 1), new or worsening HTN occurred in 34 patients (13.9%) (Fig. 1). Four patients (1.6%) were diagnosed with new HTN at a median of 6.13 months, and 30 (12.2%) with worsening of pre-existing HTN at a median of 5.44 months. Univariate predictors of HTN risk were anaplastic thyroid cancer histology, history of asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD), pre-existing HTN, hyperlipidemia, and moderate to high/very high cardiotoxicity risk by the HFA/ICOS risk score. On multivariable analysis, history of asymptomatic CAD (HR 9.23, 95%CI 2.19–38.87; sHR 8.96, 95%CI 2.94–27.26) and pre-existing HTN (HR 4.38, 95%CI 1.54–12.44; sHR 4.47, 95%CI 1.61–12.37) remained associated with HTN development. During follow-up, HTN led to dose adjustments or switching of BRAF/MEKi in two and one patients, respectively, and treatment interruption or early discontinuation due to BRAF/MEKi-associated HTN occurred in one patient. Amongst 34 patients with incident HTN, 11 discontinued the medication for various reasons throughout the study; in 91% of these cases, HTN was reversible. Of the 23 patients who remained on BRAF/MEKi therapy, HTN was effectively controlled with antihypertensive therapy. Conclusion: New or worsening HTN was noted in one in eight individuals with BRAFm-TC after initiation of BRAFi±MEKi. Pre-existing HTN and asymptomatic CAD were independently associated with the risk of developing or worsening HTN, highlighting the need for baseline CV risk assessment and close BP monitoring during treatment to allow safer use of these agents.

Microbial biomarkers have emerged as promising tools for early cancer detection and disease monitoring. This study aimed to investigate microbial biomarkers and sex-associated differences in gut microbiota associated with thyroid cancer (TC). A total of 268 participants were recruited: 60 females with TC, 26 males with TC, and 182 healthy controls. The patient and healthy groups were comparable in terms of age and sex ratio. We first compared the gut microbiota between the patients and healthy participants, followed by sex-specific analyses: female patients vs. female controls, and male patients vs. male controls. Predictive models were used to explore the role of gut microbiota in predicting TC. Correlations between gut microbiota and T stage (i.e., T1 to Tx) were also investigated. The alpha and beta diversities differed between the patients and healthy participants. Sex-specific analysis demonstrated that Blautia and Alistipes were the dominant bacteria shared by both female and male patients. A 25.0% overlap in dominant bacteria was found between the male and female patients. The unique dominant bacteria in female patients constituted 43.8% (7/16) and mainly included Schaalia, Moraxella and Alicyclobacillus. In male patients, the unique dominant bacteria constituted 55.6% (10/18) and included Holdemanella, Clostridium_sensu_stricto, and Senegalimassilia. Regardless of sex, Catenibacterium was the distinguishing feature between patients and healthy participants (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.911). When combined with Aquabacterium and Dialister, the predictive accuracy increased (AUC = 0.992). Male and female patients exhibited both shared and distinct sex-specific microbiota compositions, potentially influenced by hormonal regulation, immune responses, and metabolic differences. These variations may contribute to differences in TC susceptibility and progression. The findings underscore the need for further research to confirm the functional significance of the identified microbiota and explore their potential clinical applications.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-025-14986-0.

Studies investigating the underlying genetic profile in pediatric patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are quite limited. This study aimed to identify genetic alterations in patients diagnosed with DTC. A total of 20 patients with confirmed DTC were included in the study; however, five were excluded due to the unavailability of thyroid tumor samples. Somatic mutation analysis of the DICER1, BRAF, KRAS, NRAS, and HRAS genes was performed using next-generation sequencing. In addition, gene fusions involving ALK, RET, PTC, ETV6, and NTRK3 were assessed using fluorescence in situ hybridization. A family screening was also conducted, and thyroid ultrasonography was performed. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was carried out for family members when deemed necessary. The mean age at diagnosis was 14.42±2.88 years. Somatic mutations were identified in nine patients (60 %). The detected mutations were as follows: RET/PTC fusion (n=3), BRAF V600E (n=2), NRAS Q61R (n=1), NRAS A59D (n=1), DICER1 E1705K (n=1), and ETV6/NTRK3 fusion (n=1). No statistically significant differences in prognostic factors were observed between patients with and without somatic mutations. As part of the family screening, suspicious thyroid nodules were detected in four parents. One parent underwent hemithyroidectomy, and final pathology revealed papillary thyroid carcinoma. Considering the limited number of similar studies on childhood thyroid cancer, these findings provide a valuable contribution to the existing literature. In particular, the results obtained from family screening may support advancements in early diagnosis, risk stratification, and the development of targeted therapeutic approaches.

In recent years, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased rapidly and significantly, ranking the third among malignant tumors in women. Although conventional open thyroidectomy has achieved excellent therapeutic effects, with the improvement of people's demands for aesthetics, pursuing smaller postoperative scars has become one of the patients' expectations. With the continuous promotion of endoscopic/robotic surgery and minimally invasive concepts at home and abroad, endoscopic/robotic-assisted thyroid surgery has been widely applied in clinical practice. Endoscopic/robotic-assisted small-incision thyroidectomy has several advantages, such as reducing surgical trauma, shortening the recovery time, and improving cosmetic outcomes. This article now reviews the latest progress of endoscopic/robotic-assisted small-incision thyroidectomy, aiming to provide a reference for clinical practice.

Thyroid disease is one of the essential health threats and requires early detection to enable more effective medical intervention. This study aims to develop a classification model using the XGBoost algorithm to categorize patient clinical data from the Kaggle platform into three levels of thyroid cancer risk: low, moderate, and high. The data processing process follows the stages of the SEMMA (Sample, Explore, Modify, Model, Assess) methodology, with main techniques such as label coding, stratified 5-fold cross-validation, and hyperparameter tuning being applied. Performance evaluation was conducted using accuracy metrics, including F1-score and AUC-ROC. The results show that the model exhibits excellent performance in detecting low-risk cases (AUC = 1.00), but it still faces challenges in classifying moderate and high-risk categories. After adjusting the hyperparameters, the validation accuracy increased to 96.24%, although the final accuracy on the test data remained at 69.85%. These findings suggest that XGBoost is a promising approach for the early assessment of thyroid disease risk, particularly in detecting low-risk cases. However, further model development is needed to enhance generalizability across risk levels and support informed clinical decision-making.

Erianin induces apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells via TNF signaling pathway.

The circadian rhythm plays a crucial role in thyroid cancer progression. DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways are closely associated with the sensitivity to cisplatin. However, the role of circadian rhythm genes on cisplatin resistance in thyroid cancer remains undefined. Panels of molecular screening were achieved by signaling antibody array. Molecular expressions were established via western blotting and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Multiple assays (Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, Transwell) were used to assess cellular dynamics. The xenograft tumor model was employed for in vivo therapeutic evaluation. BCPAP and KTC-1 cells were more resistant to cisplatin than other thyroid cancer cell lines, and DDR pathway activation was detected upon cisplatin treatment in BCPAP and KTC-1. The target that affects cisplatin efficacy was screened among circadian rhythm genes, and found that TIMELESS expression was correlated with the sensitivity to cisplatin and malignant signatures of thyroid cancer. TIMELESS knockdown impaired the DDR pathway activation, and significantly enhanced the efficacy of cisplatin treatment in vitro and in vivo. The newly identified signaling involving circadian rhythm genes and DDR pathways provided mechanistic insights into the cisplatin sensitization strategy in thyroid cancer. Therefore, TIMELESS may be a promising target in thyroid cancer therapeutics.

Percutaneous ablation of benign thyroid nodules has become a widely accepted alternative to surgery. There has also been increasing use of percutaneous ablation in thyroid cancer. However, there are important differences between ablating benign and malignant nodules. Proper patient selection is critical for achieving good outcomes. While the field is rapidly evolving, there are fundamental principles that must be understood. The purpose of this review is to overview thyroid cancer biology, describe safe and effective techniques for treating thyroid cancers, and discuss which patients would benefit most from percutaneous ablation treatment. Keywords: Head/Neck, Percutaneous, Thyroid, Ablation Techniques, Thyroid Cancer, Radiofrequency Ablation, Microwave Ablation, Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma, Thyroid Nodules © RSNA, 2025.

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of ¹⁸F-fluoro-L-ascorbic acid ([¹⁸F]FAA) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in detecting metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and compare it with ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([¹⁸F]FDG) PET/CT. Data were retrospectively collected from patients who were clinically suspected or diagnosed with postoperative metastatic DTC between September 2023 and May 2024. Quantification was performed using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and target-to-background ratio (TBR). Histopathological outcomes and clinical follow-up served as the reference standard for final diagnosis. Diagnostic accuracy was compared using McNemar's test, and tracer uptake was analyzed via the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A total of 85 participants (median age, 51 years; IQR, 38-61 years; 45 women) were evaluated. For cervical lymph nodes (LNs), [¹⁸F]FAA showed superior sensitivity (88% vs. 67%), accuracy (82% vs. 69%), and negative predictive value (78% vs. 57%) (all p < 0.001), with comparable specificity (72% vs. 74%, p = 0.64) and positive predictive value (84% vs. 81%; p = 0.44) than [18F]FDG. For distant metastases, [¹⁸F]FAA PET/CT demonstrated higher sensitivity than [¹⁸F]FDG for pulmonary metastases (53% vs. 27%), and bone metastases (72% vs. 21%) (all p < 0.001). Semiquantitatively, [¹⁸F]FAA had higher SUVmax in the cervical LN metastasis (10.3 vs. 5.4), pulmonary metastasis (4.7 vs. 2.8), and bone metastasis (16.1 vs. 3.0), as well as higher TBR in cervical LN (18.1 vs. 6.8) and bone metastasis (6.9 vs. 1.9) (all p < 0.01). [18F]FAA PET/CT outperforms [18F]FDG PET/CT in the depiction of metastatic thyroid cancer, particularly in neck LNs, pulmonary, and bone metastases. Question Is 6-Deoxy-6-[18F]fluoro-L-ascorbic acid PET/CT ([18F]FAA) PET/CT an imaging method that can identify metastatic lesions after thyroid cancer surgery, and is it superior to [18F]FDG PET/CT? Findings [¹⁸F]FAA exhibited higher sensitivity and elevated SUVmax values compared to [¹⁸F]FDG in the detection of lymph node, lung, and bone metastases of metastatic thyroid cancer. Clinical relevance [¹⁸F]FAA is a reliable diagnostic tool that can accurately locate metastatic sites after thyroid cancer surgery. This helps tailor treatment plans and predict prognosis based on different metastatic scenarios.

Oncogenic mutation-driven metabolism-immunity regulatory axis: Potential prospects for thyroid cancer precision therapy.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of domestic single-port robotic surgical system in the surgical treatment of thyroid cancer. Methods:Thyroid cancer patients who underwent domestic single-port robotic surgery in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of Sichuan Cancer Hospital from June 2024 to January 2025 were prospectively included. Clinical data, oncological characteristics, and perioperative indicators were systematically collected. Results:A total of 7 patients were included, including 3 males and 4 females, with an age of （34.57±10.26） years. All procedures were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. Operative time was（180.00±30.41） minutes. Blood loss was（5.00[15.00 ]）mL. Postoperative drainage volume was （167.86±130.95） mL. The postoperative pathological results were all thyroid papillary carcinoma. There were no system failures, no device-related complications and adverse events were observed during the operation and perioperative period. No tumor recurrence or metastasis was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusion:Preliminary data indicate that the domestic single-port robotic surgical system is safe and feasible for the surgical treatment of thyroid cancer, providing a practical basis for subsequent multi-disease, multi-center, and large-sample studies.

ABSTRACTBackgroundGlucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs) are widely used for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity, but their potential association with thyroid cancer remains a concern. This study assessed thyroid cancer risk with long‐term GLP‐1RA use in a large real‐world cohort.MethodsWe conducted a propensity score matched cohort study using electronic health records from TriNetX, including 89,646 adults with T2DM who initiated GLP‐1RA therapy between 2014 and 2020, and demonstrated continued use for at least 1 year. Active comparator controls included users of insulin, metformin, sodium‐glucose transporter‐2 inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinediones. The primary outcome was the incidence of thyroid cancer.ResultsDuring a median follow‐up of 4.5 ± 2.3 years, GLP‐1RA use was not associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer compared with any of the other antidiabetic medications. As expected, GLP‐1RA use was associated with a greater reduction in HbA1c levels, while the negative control outcome remained unaffected. Findings remained consistent across subgroups stratified by sex, age, obesity‐status, glycaemic‐control, and GLP‐1RA type and in multiple sensitivity analyses.ConclusionsIn this large real‐world cohort study, long‐term GLP‐1RA use was not associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer. These findings provide reassurance for the safety of GLP‐1RAs and support their continued evidence‐based use in clinical practice.

Genomic distinctions in adolescent and young adult cancer: A comprehensive review.

Validation of contemporary scoring algorithms for medical clearance of emergency department psychiatric patients.

The Impact of Ultra-Processed Food Intake and Genetic Predisposition on Psychological Well-being in a General Adult Cohort with Cancer Subgroups: The KoGES Study.

Objective:To evaluate the safety, feasibility, and technical advantages of the domestic Jingfeng single-port robotic surgical system in transoral and transaxillary approach surgeries for multisite diseases. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 6 patients who underwent Jingfeng SP1000 single-port robotic-assisted surgery at our hospital from June 2025 to July 2025. They were divided into the transoral robotic surgery group（4cases） and the transaxillary approach thyroid cancer radical resection group（2cases） based on surgical approaches. The transoral robotic surgery group included extended resection of right tonsillar cancer with cervical lymph node dissection, epiglottic cyst resection, extended resection of right pyriform sinus cancer with cervical lymph node dissection, and surgery for epiglottic cyst and obstructive sleep apnea（OSA）. For each case, parameters including operative time, intraoperative blood loss, perioperative complications, robotic operation performance, and postoperative recovery were recorded. Results:All 6 surgeries were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery or system failure. In the transoral robotic surgery group, the mean robotic operation time was（60.00±34.88） minutes, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 20.00（5.75，20.00）mL. In the transaxillary robotic surgery group, the robotic operation time was respectively 60.00 and 40.00 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 10.00 and 5.00 mL, respectively. One case of minor perioperative complication（in the flap dissection area） occurred, with no severe complications reported. All patients recovered smoothly after surgery, with a median follow-up of 1.9 months showing no residual lesions, recurrence, or functional impairment. Conclusion:This case series confirms the safety and feasibility of the domestic Jingfeng single-port robot in transoral and axillary approach surgeries in oropharyngeal-head and neck surgery. Its single-port design reduces trauma and the risk of robotic arm collision, adapts to minimally invasive needs, and its domestic production attribute lowers costs to facilitate popularization, providing a new option for such patients.

Optimizing 211At production cross section by studying the rise of 210At cross section: First measurement using Linac SPIRAL2.

Cancer incidence decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic; this study describes cancer incidence changes for children, adolescents, and young adults during this period. We used US Cancer Statistics (USCS) to describe potential impacts of the pandemic on cancer incidence for persons 0-39 years. We used data from USCS, covering 98% of the US population, to evaluate cancer case counts, incidence rates, and monthly counts; incidence rate ratios were calculated comparing year 2019 (baseline) to 2020 and 2021. We calculated trends using joinpoint regression for the period 2003-2021. Comparing 2019 with 2020, cancer incidence decreased 5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3%-7%) for ages 0-19 years and 7% (95% CI, 6%-8%) for ages 20-39. For ages 0-19, decreases were seen for thyroid cancer, melanoma, and nonmalignant central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms. For ages 20-39, decreases were seen for leukemias, lymphomas, CNS neoplasms, sarcomas, melanoma, and some carcinoma types. Decreases in 2020 were least pronounced for the distant stage at diagnosis. For ages 0-39, new diagnoses were lowest during March or April 2020 but returned to prepandemic levels during the second half of 2020. Decreases in 2021 were consistent with previously decreasing trends for many cancer types. Cancer rate decreases were largest for young adults (vs. children) and were significant for some cancer types. These findings might help assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, inform investigations into potential causes of these decreases, and guide responses to future public health crises.

An integrated metal-organic frameworks and membrane fusion platform for the separation and detection of exosome miRNA in thyroid cancer diagnosis

Self-supporting flexible electrode-integrated microfluidic ECL sensor for piR-651 detection in thyroid cancer extracellular vesicles