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Updated: May 9, 2026
05:39
Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Published on: February 3, 2023
CD8+ T cells in Hashimoto's thyroiditis-associated papillary thyroid carcinoma
Lirong Wang1, Lin Zhang2, Jiawen Chen3
1Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
European Thyroid Journal
|May 7, 2026
Summary
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) co-occurring with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) shows increased CD8+ T cell infiltration. These CD8+ T cells retain function, potentially explaining the less aggressive nature of HT-PTC.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid cancer.
- PTC frequently coexists with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).
- HT-associated PTC often exhibits less aggressive features, but underlying immune mechanisms are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of CD8+ T cells in HT-associated PTC.
- To explore the immune profile contributing to the observed clinicopathological differences.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptomic analysis of TCGA data.
- Experimental validation using surgically resected HT-PTC specimens.
- Co-culture assays to assess CD8+ T cell function and impact on cancer cells.
Main Results:
- Increased CD8+ T cell infiltration in HT-PTC compared to non-HT-PTC.
- HT-PTC derived CD8+ T cells showed preserved cytokine secretion, lower TIM-3/LAG-3 expression, and higher Granzyme B.
- These CD8+ T cells reduced thyroid cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro.
Conclusions:
- CD8+ T cells in HT-PTC exhibit retained functional activity without significant exhaustion markers.
- This immune profile may contribute to the less aggressive behavior of HT-PTC.
- Findings offer a biological basis for immune-informed risk stratification in PTC.
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