[Determination of the thyroglobulin content in malignant and benign thyroid gland tumors as well as in thyrotoxic...

A decreased content of the organospecific antigen (thyroglobulin) was found in the tissues of 70% of thyroid gland cancers and in about 50% of thyroid benign tumours and thyrotoxic goiters studied. These data testify to the fact that the antigenic simplification is not an obligatory and specific process for the malignant transformation of thyroid tissue. Among the neoplasms with decreased thyroglobulin content there were found tumours built up both of "A" and "C" cellular types, thus indicating the dual nature of the antigenic simplification of the thyroid tumours.