Poorly Differentiated and Undifferentiated Thyroid Carcinomas

Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Hunt ◽  
Virginia A. LiVolsi
2009 ◽  
Vol 133 (5) ◽  
pp. 683-691
Author(s):  
Ronald Ghossein

Abstract Context.—Despite past and recent efforts, many problems and controversies remain in the classification of thyroid carcinomas of follicular cell origin. These controversies have an impact on the prognosis and therapy of patients with thyroid carcinoma as well as on the development of robust cutting-edge research aimed at better outcome and quality of life. Objective.—To focus on 3 contentious areas with significant clinical value: the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma, the extent of invasion in follicular carcinoma, and the poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas. Data Sources.—The published English language literature was reviewed. Conclusions.—Recent data show that prognosis and therapy for many disease entities can be better delineated if a meticulous microscopic examination is performed. An accurate assessment of the extent of invasion (especially vascular) is crucial. Proliferative grading (ie, mitosis and necrosis) is of high prognostic value and should be looked for in every specimen. In addition, molecular data gathered to date can help reassess these tumors at the histologic level. Classification proposals based on personal experience rather than adequate and careful clinical follow-up should be discouraged.


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane Gnemmi ◽  
Florence Renaud ◽  
Christine Do Cao ◽  
Julia Salleron ◽  
Georges Lion ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther D. Rossi ◽  
Patrizia Straccia ◽  
Marianna Palumbo ◽  
Egidio Stigliano ◽  
Luca Revelli ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1715-1715
Author(s):  
Marco Volante ◽  
Ida Rapa ◽  
Manoj Gandhi ◽  
Gianni Bussolati ◽  
Daniela Giachino ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Context Poorly differentiated carcinomas represent an aggressive group of thyroid tumors with controversial classification placement and poorly understood pathogenesis. Molecular data in this group of tumors are extremely heterogeneous, possibly reflecting different inclusion criteria. Recently homogeneous diagnostic criteria have been proposed by our group (Turin proposal) that need to be complemented by detailed molecular characterization. Objective The objective of the study was to define a comprehensive molecular typing of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas classified following homogeneous diagnostic criteria. Design Sixty-five cases of poorly differentiated carcinoma selected following the Turin proposal have been screened for N-, K-, H-RAS, BRAF, RET/PTC1 and 3, and PAX8/PPARγ mutations-rearrangements using alternative techniques and in two different laboratories. Molecular data were compared with clinical pathological parameters and survival by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results RAS mutations in codon 61 were by far the most common genetic alteration in poorly differentiated carcinomas (23% of cases), with all mutation in NRAS except one in the HRAS gene. A single BRAF mutation was found in a poorly differentiated carcinoma with a residual component of a tall cell variant of papillary carcinoma. No KRAS, RET/PTC, or PAX8/PPARγ genetic alteration was detected. In this series, the presence of RAS mutations was a unique negative prognostic parameter at multivariate analysis. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that strictly classified poorly differentiated carcinomas are genetically homogeneous, RAS mutations being the almost exclusive genetic event. Moreover, the detection of RAS mutations might be clinically relevant for the prognostic stratification of these tumors.


2009 ◽  
Vol 94 (12) ◽  
pp. 4735-4741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Volante ◽  
Ida Rapa ◽  
Manoj Gandhi ◽  
Gianni Bussolati ◽  
Daniela Giachino ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Giovanella ◽  
L. Ceriani ◽  
A. Ghelfo ◽  
M. Maffioli

Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) is an acidic protein of 40 kDa that is part of the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells and is highly expressed by differentiated thyroid carcinomas, mainly of the papillary subtype. The soluble fragments of CK19 (Cyfra 21.1) can be measured by immunometric assays employing specific monoclonal antibodies. The present study was planned to assess the serum expression of Cyfra 21.1 in patients with benign thyroid nodules and thyroid malignancies. We enrolled 135 patients with histologically proven benign thyroid nodules (n=79) and thyroid carcinomas (n=56). No differences were found in serum Cyfra 21.1 levels between patients with benign nodules and patients with carcinomas. When thyroid malignancies were subdivided according to tumor histology, serum Cyfra 21.1 increased significantly from classical differentiated thyroid carcinomas (papillary or follicular) to less differentiated or undifferentiated carcinomas (poorly differentiated or anaplastic). CK19 release into the bloodstream is strongly related to the apoptotic pathway, and particularly to hyperproliferation-related apoptosis. These pathways characterized anaplastic and poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma but not classical forms of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Consequently, Cyfra 21.1 may be regarded as a circulating marker of poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Additionally, a role of Cyfra 21.1 as a dedifferentiation marker in patients with classical differentiated thyroid carcinomas may be postulated and should be explored by further focused studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 285-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eyun Song ◽  
Dong Eun Song ◽  
Jonghwa Ahn ◽  
Tae Yong Kim ◽  
Won Bae Kim ◽  
...  

Major clinical challenges exist with differentiated thyroid cancers with distant metastases or rare but aggressive types, such as poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. The precise characterization of the mutational profile in these advanced thyroid cancers is crucial. Samples were collected from primary tumors and distant metastases of 64 patients with distant metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer, poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma, or anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed with 50 known thyroid-cancer-related genes. Of the 82 tissues, 63 were from primary tumors and 19 from distant metastases. The most prevalent mutation observed from the primary tumors was TERT promoter mutation (56%), followed by BRAF (41%) and RAS (24%) mutations. TP3 was altered by 11%. Mutations in histone methyltransferases, SWI/SNF subunit–related genes, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway-related genes were present in 42%, 12%, and 22%, respectively. When the mutational status was analyzed in 15 matched pairs of thyroid tumors and their matched distant metastases and one pair of distant metastases with two distinct sites, the concordance was high. A similar frequency of mutations in TERT promoter (58%) and BRAF (42%) as well as histone methyltransferases (37%), SWI/SNF subunits (10%), and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway (26%) were noted. The same main, early and late mutations were practically always present in individual primary tumor–metastasis pairs. Enrichment of TERT promoter, BRAF, and RAS mutations were detected in highly advanced thyroid cancers with distant metastasis. The genetic profiles of primary thyroid tumors and their corresponding distant metastases showed a high concordance.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document