Transglutaminase 2 as a Potential Novel Marker for Lymph Node Metastasis and Recurrence in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Author : Yagmur Goksoy Solak

Abstract :Purpose: Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is associated with mobilization, invasion, and chemoresistance of tumor cells. We aimed to determine whether the immunohistochemical staining with TG2 antibody differs between metastatic and non-metastatic papillary thyroid cancer patients. Methods: We included 76 patients with papillary thyroid cancer (72% female, median age 52 (24-81) years, follow-up time 107 (60-216) months). Thirty of them with no metastasis, 30 of them with only lymph node metastasis and 16 patients with distant±lymph node metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining of TG2 antibody was evaluated in the primary tumor and extra-tumoral tissue. We also divided subjects into two groups according to their primary tumor TG2 staining score (group A, high risk group: ≥3, n=43; group B, low risk group: <3, n=33). Results: Vascular invasion (p<0,001), thyroid capsule invasion (p<0,001), extrathyroidal extension (p<0,001), intrathyroidal dissemination (p=0,001), lymph node metastasis (p<0,001), presence of aggressive histology (p<0,001) were significantly higher in group A. No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of distant metastasis. Based on ATA risk classification 95.5% of patients with low risk were in group B but 86.8% of intermediate risk and 56.3% of high risk were in group A. In regression analysis, lymph node metastasis increased by 1,9 times with each one point increase in TG2 staining score.

Keywords :Papillary thyroid cancer, transglutaminase 2, lymph node metastasis, risk assessment, immunohistochemical.

Conference Name :International Conference on Oncology and Biomarkers (ICOOAB -24)

Conference Place Edinburgh, UK

Conference Date 6th Nov 2024