Value of circulating neutrophil elastase for detecting recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer

The inflammatory microenvironment has been implicated in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Inflammatory stimuli induce the release of components of neutrophils into extracellular space, leading to formation of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET), which can stimulate growth and progression of cancer. Generation of activated factor XII and thrombin is also involved in cancer progression. This study attempted to determine whether the level of circulating markers of NET, activated factor XII, and endogenous thrombin potential may be useful for detecting the recurrence of DTC.

A total of 122 patients with DTC were recruited during the postoperative follow-up period. Measurement of the levels of circulating markers of NET (neutrophil elastase, histone-DNA complex, cell-free dsDNA), activated factor XII, and endogenous thrombin potential was performed.

A significantly elevated level of neutrophil elastase was detected in patients with recurrence (n = 12) compared to those without recurrence (n = 110), while significant elevation of the levels of other markers was not observed. The value for area under the curve (0.717, P = 0.018) of neutrophil elastase for detecting recurrence of DTC was superior to that (0.661, P = 0.051) of serum thyroglobulin. An elevated level of neutrophil elastase was significantly associated with recurrence of DTC independent of serum thyroglobulin.

Because an elevated level of neutrophil elastase was detected in patients with recurrence of DTC and showed a significant association with recurrence of DTC, it can be proposed as a novel biomarker for use in detecting recurrence of DTC along with other tests.