BACKGROUND: Although fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is 90% sensitive in the detection of papillary carcinoma (PC) of the thyroid, its specificity has been reported as low as 52%. Consequently, patients who have an FNA suspicious for PC may undergo operation for a benign process. The ribonucleoprotein telomerase has been noted to be activated in a wide variety of carcinomas. We examined 30 PCs for telomerase activity to determine whether this would be a useful adjunct to FNA in the diagnosis of lesions suspicious for PC. METHODS: Standard telomere repeat amplification protocol assays were performed on fresh frozen tissue samples from 30 PCs, 3 benign nodules, and 10 normal thyroids. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was documented in 20 of 30 (67%) of the PCs, 0 of 3 benign nodules, and 0 of 10 normal thyroids. In all, 11 of the 20 PCs had FNA cytology that was nondiagnostic of PC, and 2 of the benign nodules had FNA that was suspicious for PC. CONCLUSIONS: The telomerase assay appears useful in the distinction of benign from malignant thyroid lesions that have FNA suspicious for but not diagnostic of PC. On the basis of these findings, a prospective trial examining telomerase activity in FNAs suspicious for thyroid cancer has been initiated.
BACKGROUND: Although fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is 90% sensitive in the detection of papillary carcinoma (PC) of the thyroid, its specificity has been reported as low as 52%. Consequently, patients who have an FNA suspicious for PC may undergo operation for a benign process. The ribonucleoprotein telomerase has been noted to be activated in a wide variety of carcinomas. We examined 30 PCs for telomerase activity to determine whether this would be a useful adjunct to FNA in the diagnosis of lesions suspicious for PC. METHODS: Standard telomere repeat amplification protocol assays were performed on fresh frozen tissue samples from 30 PCs, 3 benign nodules, and 10 normal thyroids. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was documented in 20 of 30 (67%) of the PCs, 0 of 3 benign nodules, and 0 of 10 normal thyroids. In all, 11 of the 20 PCs had FNA cytology that was nondiagnostic of PC, and 2 of the benign nodules had FNA that was suspicious for PC. CONCLUSIONS: The telomerase assay appears useful in the distinction of benign from malignant thyroid lesions that have FNA suspicious for but not diagnostic of PC. On the basis of these findings, a prospective trial examining telomerase activity in FNAs suspicious for thyroid cancer has been initiated.
Authors: Yongchun Wang; Alan K Meeker; Jeanne Kowalski; Hua-Ling Tsai; Helina Somervell; Christopher Heaphy; Lauren E Sangenario; Nijaguna Prasad; William H Westra; Martha A Zeiger; Christopher B Umbricht Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2011-07-16 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: Yongchun Wang; Jeanne Kowalski; Hua-Ling Tsai; Radharani Marik; Nijaguna Prasad; Helina Somervell; Pang-Kuo Lo; Lauren E Sangenario; Lars Dyrskjot; Torben F Orntoft; William H Westra; Alan K Meeker; James R Eshleman; Christopher B Umbricht; Martha A Zeiger Journal: Thyroid Date: 2008-10 Impact factor: 6.568
Authors: Paula Soares; Jorge Lima; Ana Preto; Patricia Castro; João Vinagre; Ricardo Celestino; Joana P Couto; Hugo Prazeres; Catarina Eloy; Valdemar Máximo; M Sobrinho-Simões Journal: Curr Genomics Date: 2011-12 Impact factor: 2.236