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Downregulated expression of TSHR is associated with distant metastasis in thyroid cancer

Tianrun Liu1, Qianqian Men2, Xuan Su3

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510655, P.R. China.

Oncology Letters
|January 19, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) downregulation promotes differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) metastasis by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Lack of TSHR expression is a key indicator of poor prognosis and distant metastasis in DTC patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The role of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) metastasis is not well understood.
  • The involvement of TSHR in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in DTC has not been previously reported.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of TSHR in the distant metastasis of DTC.
  • To explore the association between TSHR expression and EMT in DTC.
  • To analyze the prognostic value of TSHR in DTC patients.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical analysis of TSHR expression in 172 DTC tissue samples.
  • In vitro studies to assess the effect of TSHR on thyroid cancer cell invasion and EMT.
  • Multivariate analyses to determine the prognostic significance of TSHR.

Main Results:

  • TSHR was significantly downregulated in well-differentiated thyroid cancer cells and tissues.
  • Lack of TSHR expression was associated with increased thyroid cancer cell invasion and distant metastasis.
  • TSHR expression was identified as a significant independent prognostic factor for distant metastasis and patient survival.

Conclusions:

  • TSHR inhibits metastasis in DTC by regulating EMT.
  • Downregulation of TSHR is a significant factor contributing to distant metastasis and poor prognosis in differentiated thyroid cancer.
Keywords:
TSHRdifferentiated thyroid cancermetastasisprognosis

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