Peripheral thyrotropin receptor mRNA as a novel marker for differentiated thyroid cancer diagnosis and surveillance

Abstract

Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent endocrine cancer whose incidence rates, particularly among women, have increased over the last decade. Although survival outcomes following surgery (with or without radioactive iodine ablation treatment) remain favorable, a significant proportion of patients are at lifetime risk of locoregional lymph node recurrence and distant metastasis. Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) has been the only circulating marker in routine use for detecting thyroid cancer recurrence, but it lacks sensitivity and is unreliable when Tg antibodies are present. New molecular markers for thyroid cancer have been investigated, with most based on detection in thyroid nodule or tumor tissue specimens. Recently, it has become possible to detect thyroid cancer cells in peripheral blood by measuring the mRNA of thyroid-specific genes, such as the mRNA of Tg and thyrotropin receptor. These have become promising new circulating markers for thyroid cancer. This review highlights the progress in this field from the perspective of improved initial cancer diagnosis and enhanced ability to monitor thyroid cancer recurrence.

Circulating thyrotropin receptor messenger RNA for evaluation of thyroid nodules and surveillance of thyroid cancer in children

“…Thyrotropin receptor mRNA had a false-negative result in 3 patients (patients no. 11,14,17). Patient no.…”

“…Thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) messenger RNA (mRNA) is a molecular marker of differentiated thyroid cancer that can be quantitatively measured from a peripheral blood sample by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [14][15][16]. Thyrotropin receptor mRNA serves as a surrogate marker for circulating thyroid cancer cells, which are the source of circulating TSHR mRNA in serum (Fig.…”

Thyroid malignancy neoplasm-associated biomarkers as targets for oncolytic virotherapy

“…The binding of soluble thyrotropin to its receptor activates adenylyl cyclase and intercellular levels of cAMP rise. cAMP activates all functional aspects of the thyroid cell, including iodine pumping; thyroglobulin synthesis, iodination, endocytosis, and proteolysis; thyroid peroxidase (TPO) activity; and hormone release 14. A positive thyroid tissue staining was observed exclusively along the basal cell surface of the flattened follicular cell tissues using a monoclonal antibody against the C-terminal region of human TSHR 15,16…”

Circulating thyroid stimulating hormone receptor messenger RNA and differentiated thyroid cancer: A diagnostic meta-analysis

“…In a certain extent, it can improve the accuracy of diagnosis of thyroid cancer. However, surveillance, early and precision diagnosis as well as treatment are still the main problem [4]. Currently there are ThyroSeqV2 next generation sequencing assay to improve the diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid cancer method [5], which is high accuracy but high cost, and can not be popularized.…”

“…It plays an important role in the development of thyroid function and thyroid disease. Because TSHR-mRNA is over-expressed in thyroid cancer cells, the measurement of TSHR-mRNA in the circulation is very valuable for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer [4]. In recent years, there have been many reports of TSHR-mRNA in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer.…”