Transglutaminase 2 expression is associated with increased risk of lymph node metastasis and recurrence in papillary thyroid cancer.

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.

CONCLUSION:

TG2 staining score of the primary tumor may be a predictive factor for lymph node metastasis. High or low TG2 scores may effect the frequency of follow-up and decision of treatment regimens.

• Authors: Yagmur Goksoy Solak, Gulcin Yegen, Semen Onder, Sakin Tekin, Ozlem Soyluk, Nurdan Gul, Refik Tanakol, Ferihan Aral, Ayse Kubat Uzum
• Journal: Endocrine (Endocrine) Vol. 82 Issue 2 Pg. 353-360 (11 2023) ISSN: 1559-0100 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 37340285 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Chemical References

• Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2

Topics

• Humans
• Female
• Middle Aged
• Male
• Thyroid Cancer, Papillary (pathology)
• Thyroid Neoplasms (pathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis (pathology)
• Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2
• Thyroidectomy
• Lymph Nodes (pathology)
• Risk Factors
• Retrospective Studies