JoVE - Journal of Visualized Experiments
JoVE Visualize
Contact Us

Transcriptome of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Reveals Two Molecular Subtypes with Distinct Tumor Microenvironment and Prognosis

  • 0CHA University School of Medicine, Pocheon, Republic of Korea.
Thyroid : Official Journal of the American Thyroid Association +

|

January 27, 2025

|

January 27, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) has a distinct tumor microenvironment (TME) with more immune cells and fibroblasts. This aggressive cancer can be classified into two subtypes, with one showing worse survival and offering potential therapeutic targets.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Genomics

Background

  • Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) has a poor prognosis with limited treatment options.
  • Tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics of ATC are not well understood.
  • Understanding TME variations is crucial for improving ATC patient outcomes.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To comprehensively analyze the TME of ATC.
  • To identify TME features associated with ATC prognosis.
  • To explore potential therapeutic targets within the ATC TME.

Main Methods

  • Analysis of bulk RNA transcriptomic data from 1,634 thyroid tissue samples, including normal, benign, differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC), and ATC.
  • Deconvolution analysis to assess TME composition and molecular characteristics.
  • Comparison of TME profiles across different thyroid cancer subtypes.

Main Results

  • ATC exhibits a unique TME with abundant immune cells and fibroblasts, and scarce epithelial cells compared to other thyroid histologies.
  • Two distinct ATC molecular subtypes were identified: ATC-immune-fibroblast (ATC-IF) and ATC-epithelial-endothelial (ATC-E).
  • The ATC-IF subtype showed worse disease-specific survival, higher ERK scores, and increased immune checkpoint and epithelial-mesenchymal transition gene expression.

Conclusions

  • ATC possesses a distinct TME that differs significantly from differentiated thyroid cancer.
  • The identified ATC subtypes (ATC-IF and ATC-E) have unique TME profiles and prognostic implications.
  • The ATC-IF subtype, characterized by a high abundance of immune cells and fibroblasts, presents potential therapeutic targets for improving patient survival.

Keywords: