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. 2024 Apr 15;17(1):8.
doi: 10.1186/s13044-024-00195-7.

TERT RNAscope analysis of sub-centimetric papillary thyroid carcinomas and synchronous lymph node metastases

Marie-Lisa Eich  1   2 , Wiebke Jeske  1 , Uschi Zenz  1 , Costanza Chiapponi  3 , Christina Alidousty  1 , Sabine Merkelbach-Bruse  1 , Reinhard Büttner  1 , Anne M Schultheis  4
Affiliations

TERT RNAscope analysis of sub-centimetric papillary thyroid carcinomas and synchronous lymph node metastases

Marie-Lisa Eich et al. Thyroid Res. .

Abstract

Background: Sub-centrimetric papillary thyroid carcinomas usually have a good prognosis with a cancer specific survival of > 99%, however in up to 65% of patients, lymph node metastases can be observed. Molecular alterations in BRAF, TERT and TP53 are associated with worse clinicopathological outcome in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Material and methods: Twenty-two cases of papillary thyroid carcinomas measuring ≤ 1 cm with synchronous lymph node metastases were examined regarding morphological patterns and immunohistochemical status of p53, Ki-67, and BRAF V600E status. TERT RNA expression in lymph node metastases were evaluated by RNAScope®.

Results: Morphological patterns were heterogeneous in both primary tumors and lymph node metastases. Proliferation indices measured by Ki-67 were low. Both primary and lymph node metastases were wild type for p53 by immunohistochemical analysis. No lymph node metastasis showed TERT expression by RNAScope®.

Conclusions: Our data indicate that TERT expression is not involved in the development early lymph node metastasis in patients with sub-centimetric PTC.

Keywords: TERT; RNAscope®; Sub-centimetric papillary thyroid carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
p53 expression pattern in sub-centimetric papillary thyroid carcinoma and accompanying lymph node metastases. HE- and p53 immunohistochemical staining in small papillary thyroid carcinoma (A, B) and lymph node metastases (C, D) in patient 13
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Ki-67 count in sub-centimetric papillary thyroid carcinoma and accompanying lymph node metastases. Ki-67 staining and detection pattern in papillary thyroid carcinoma (A, B, C) and lymph node metastases (D, E. F). B and E represent higher magnification images of A and D. Num Detections: number of detected cells. Num Positive: number of positive cells. Num negative: number of negative. % positive: % of Ki-67 positive cells
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
TERT RNAScope® in lymph node metastases from sub-centimetric papillary thyroid carcinoma. TERT RNA expression in lymph node metastases from squamous cell carcinoma (HE: A, TERT RNA Scope®: B, C) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (HE: D, TERT RNA Scope®: E, F). Scale bar 100 µm (A, B), 400 µm (D, E), 60 µm (C, F)
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