Correlation between thyroid hormone levels and the incidence and staging of bladder cancer

Given the role of thyroid hormones (THs) in metabolism, growth and development, their involvement in carcinogenesis and cancer progression in the context of bladder cancer (BC) warrants further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the associations between TH levels and the incidence and stage of BC.

A cohort of 46 diagnosed BC patients with no history of thyroid disease, and 47 healthy controls were analysed. BC patients were classified into NMIBC and MIBC according to the 2017 TNM staging system (AJCC, 8th edition). Thyroid hormones and antibodies were measured. Statistical analysis was performed via SPSS software to evaluate differences in thyroid parameters between BC patients and healthy controls, and between non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients.

Compared with healthy controls, BC patients had higher levels of thyrotropin (TSH), total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4) and thyroglobulin and lower levels of thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb). Compared with controls, both NMIBC patients and MIBC patients had elevated TT3 and TT4 levels. The proportions of NMIBC and MIBC patients were significantly greater in the high TSH, TT3, and TT4 groups than in the low TSH, TT3 and TT4 groups.

Elevated levels of TSH, TT3 and TT4 and low levels of TPOAb within the normal range appear to be associated with increased incidence and stage of BC. These findings suggest that TSH, TT3, TT4 and TPOAb levels may be useful for assessing BC prognosis and may provide new insights into therapeutic strategies.