Metabolomics as a potential method for predicting thyroid malignancy in children and adolescents

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pediatric Oncology
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Distinguishing malignant from benign thyroid nodules in pediatric patients is crucial for appropriate treatment.
• Current diagnostic methods may have limitations in accuracy and invasiveness for children and adolescents.
• Metabolomics offers a novel approach to identify biochemical differences associated with thyroid cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify potential metabolic biomarkers for differentiating malignant (papillary thyroid carcinoma) from benign thyroid nodules in pediatric patients.
• To explore the utility of a metabolomics approach in pediatric thyroid nodule diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A metabolomics study involving 96 pediatric patients who underwent thyroidectomy and 40 healthy controls.
• Plasma samples were collected preoperatively.
• Multivariate analysis of proton nuclear magnetic resonance data was used to identify differential metabolites between patient groups and controls.

Main Results:

• Metabolic profiles successfully distinguished papillary thyroid carcinoma from both benign thyroid adenoma and healthy controls.
• Seventeen differential metabolites were identified.
• Elevated levels of leucine, lactate, alanine, glycine, acetate, lysine, and choline, and decreased glucose were observed in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• The metabolomics approach, particularly using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, shows significant potential for diagnosing papillary thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents.
• Lactate and glycine are identified as potential serum biomarkers for the diagnosis of pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma.