Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Combining Biomarkers Predicts Metastasis in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 18 Mar 2020
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a neuroendocrine neoplasm originating from thyroid parafollicular C cells and accounts for only 5% of all thyroid cancers, but its malignancy is relatively high, causing 8% to 13% of thyroid cancer‐related deaths due to its aggressiveness.

It has been reported that MTC can synthesize and secrete a variety of bioactive substances, such as calcitonin (Ctn), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and neuron‐specific enolase (NSE). More...
Numerous reports have shown that the expression levels of Ctn and CEA are related to cervical lymph node metastasis,

Clinical Laboratory Scientists at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (Hangzhou, China) enrolled 74 consecutive patients (39 males and 35 females, mean age 51.4 ± 12.9 years) who underwent surgery for untreated MTC, from January 2013 to April 2019. Fasting blood samples were drawn from all patients before surgery in the morning and transported to the laboratory within three hours after phlebotomizing. Cervical lymph node dissection was performed during thyroidectomy.

Serum Ctn was measured via Siemens IMMULITE 2000 automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Ltd, Erlangen Germany); serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), carbohydrate‐associated antigen 19‐9 (CA19‐9), and CEA were measured by Siemens Centaur XP automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer; serum cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21‐1) and NSE were measured by Roche Cobas e 602 automatic electrochemical luminescence immunoanalyzer (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany). Immunohistochemistry was used to make the diagnosis of MTC, if the case was difficult to determine by routine pathology techniques.

The scientists reported that the rate of lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) in their study was 48.64% (36/74). The expression levels of serum Ctn, CEA, and NSE in MTC with LLNM were significantly higher than those without LLNM; however, there was no significant difference in the levels of serum AFP, CYFRA21‐1, CA19‐9, and CA242 between the two groups.

The area under the curve (AUC) predicted by serum Ctn, CEA, and NSE for LLNM in MTC patients was 0.867, 0.831, and 0.726, respectively, and the AUC of serum Ctn, CEA, and NSE combined detection was up to 0.89, higher than using a single biomarker. The sensitivity and specificity of serum Ctn, CEA, and NSE combined detection in prediction of LLNM were 88.9% and 81.6%, respectively.

The authors concluded that the concentrations of serum Ctn, CEA, and NSE are closely related to LLNM in MTC, and the combined detection of all three biomarkers has a higher clinical value in the evaluation of MTC patients with LLNM. The study was published on March 6, 2020 in the Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis.

Related Links:
Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics
Roche Diagnostics



Gold Member
Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile pHOx
Portable Electronic Pipette
Mini 96
New
Rapid Molecular Testing Device
FlashDetect Flash10
New
Clinical Chemistry System
P780
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The study highlights the potential of cCAFs as a biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis (H J Woo et al., Analytical Chemistry (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c02154)

Simultaneous Cell Isolation Technology Improves Cancer Diagnostic Accuracy

Accurate cancer diagnosis remains a challenge, as liquid biopsy techniques often fail to capture the complexity of tumor biology. Traditional systems for isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) vary in... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: New research points to protecting blood during radiation therapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments

Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The VENTANA HER2 (4B5) test is now CE-IVDR approved (Photo courtesy of Roche)

Companion Diagnostic Test Identifies HER2-Ultralow Breast Cancer and Biliary Tract Cancer Patients

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Europe, with more than 564,000 new cases and 145,000 deaths annually. Metastatic breast cancer is rising in younger populations and remains the leading cause... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Conceptual design of the CORAL capsule for microbial sampling in the small intestine (H. Mohammed et al., Device (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2025.100904)

Coral-Inspired Capsule Samples Hidden Bacteria from Small Intestine

The gut microbiome has been linked to conditions ranging from immune disorders to mental health, yet conventional stool tests often fail to capture bacterial populations in the small intestine.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.