Development of preoperative diagnosis of follicular thyroid cancer using gene expression analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08986
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55010:General surgery and pediatric surgery-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Iwadate Manabu 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (00381393)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松本 佳子 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (10815145) ; 鈴木 眞一 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (70235951)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 甲状腺 / 濾胞癌 / 術前診断

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we performed gene expression analysis using surgical specimens and gene mutation analysis using thyroid fine needle aspiration specimens. Comprehensive gene expression analysis was performed. Finally, the expression of 14 genes was examined, and the sum of the gene expression scores of each gene was calculated as the 14 Genes score. The cut-off value was set at 1.2568, and it was possible to distinguish between follicular thyroid carcinoma, follicular adenoma, and adenomatous goiter with a sensitivity of 91.7% and a specificity of 91.2%. We also attempted to analyze TERT gene mutations using fine needle aspiration specimens. The subjects were 117 cases of thyroid nodules other than those diagnosed as malignant by fine needle aspiration cytology. TERT gene mutations were observed not only in thyroid follicular thyroid carcinoma but also in adenomatous goiter.

Free Research Field

甲状腺

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

甲状腺濾胞癌を術前に診断することは困難であり、甲状腺濾胞性腫瘍の大きさ、超音波画像（血流、エラストグラフィ）、血清サイログロブリン値に加え、遺伝子発現解析や遺伝子変異を加味することにより、甲状腺濾胞癌を術前に疑うことが可能となる。現在、遠隔転移が発見されて、はじめて甲状腺濾胞癌と診断される症例もあることから、甲状腺濾胞癌の有用なツールとなりうる。