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DNA content in radiation-associated thyroid cancer
R A Komorowski1, T F Deaconson, R Vetsch
1Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Surgery
|December 1, 1988
Summary
Thyroid cancer patients with prior head and neck irradiation showed diploid DNA content in tumors. This contrasts with non-radiation-associated thyroid cancers, suggesting irradiation may not alter DNA content detectable by flow cytometry.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Medical Physics
Background:
- DNA content is a prognostic indicator in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
- Malignant tumors initiated by irradiation often exhibit DNA aberrations.
- Previous research suggests a link between DNA abnormalities and thyroid cancer prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the DNA content of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in patients with a history of low-dose head and neck irradiation.
- To compare DNA content in radiation-associated versus non-radiation-associated thyroid lesions.
- To determine if prior irradiation influences DNA ploidy in thyroid cancer.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to determine the DNA content of thyroid cancer cells.
- Fifty-three patients with thyroid cancer were included in the study.
- Thyroid carcinomas were categorized as radiation-associated or non-radiation-associated.
Main Results:
- All sixteen radiation-associated thyroid carcinomas (papillary, follicular, medullary) were diploid.
- Ten of thirty-seven non-radiation-associated tumors were aneuploid (specifically 10/29 papillary carcinomas).
- The difference in DNA content between radiation-associated and non-radiation-associated thyroid carcinomas was statistically significant (p < 0.02).
Conclusions:
- Unexpectedly, radiation-associated thyroid carcinomas in this cohort were all diploid.
- The findings suggest that DNA aberrations induced by initiating irradiation may not be reflected in DNA content measurable by flow cytometry.
- Further research is needed to understand the specific DNA alterations caused by irradiation in thyroid cancer.