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. 2025 May;8(5):e70191.
doi: 10.1002/cnr2.70191.

The Relationship Between Serum Levels of Thyroglobulin Antibody and the Risk of Recurrence in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Amirian Fatemeh  1 , Yaghoubi Mohammad Ali  2 , Mehrad-Majd Hassan  3   4 , Mohebbi Masoud  5 , Layegh Parvin  6 , Vazifeh-Mostaan Leila  7 , Dadgar Moghaddam Maliheh  8 , Amirian Zahra  9 , Taghavi Ghazaleh  7
Affiliations

The Relationship Between Serum Levels of Thyroglobulin Antibody and the Risk of Recurrence in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Amirian Fatemeh et al. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2025 May.

Abstract

Objective: Thyroid Autoantibodies (TgAbs) are associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders and are also used in thyroid cancer follow-up to monitor for recurrence of disease. This study aimed to explore the potential utility of TgAbs as a surrogate tumor marker and examine the relationship between fluctuations in TgAbs levels and disease recurrence in patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (DTC).

Methods: This cohort study was conducted on a sample of 97 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) between the years 2017 and 2021. Following surgery (with or without lymph node dissection), levothyroxine therapy and 131 iodine were prescribed (as necessary). Regular laboratory evaluations were conducted, which involved measuring Tg and TgAb at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Patients were classified based on recurrence rate and different levels of TgAb, and ROC analysis was applied. All data were analyzed with SPSS24, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: For low-risk patients, TgAb trends over time showed an increase at 6 months, while for high-risk patients, TgAb levels continuously rose starting from 3 months. Although TgAb levels above the functional sensitivity threshold did not predict recurrence overall, changes in TgAb levels at 6 months compared to 3 months after surgery were indicative of recurrence.

Conclusion: In the entire population, having TgAb levels higher than the functional sensitivity threshold had no risk of various relapses. However, changes in TgAb serum levels at 6 months after surgery, compared to 3 months after surgery, can serve as an indication of tumor recurrence.

Keywords: Tg Ab; differented thyroid cancer; thyroid cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
TgAb changes after the surgery. A. TgAb changes after the 3 months of surgery. B. TgAb changes after the 6 months of surgery.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
A. ROC curve to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of baseline TgAb. B. ROC curve to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of baseline Tg.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
A. ROC curve to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of TgAb measured 3 months after surgery. B. ROC curve to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Tg measured 3 months after surgery.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
A. ROC curve to assess the sensitivity and specificity of TgAb measured 6 months after surgery. B. ROC curve to assess the sensitivity and specificity of Tg measured 6 months after surgery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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