Characterization of Human Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Glycosphingolipids Identifies Potential Cancer Markers

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for only 1–2% of thyroid cancers; however, metastatic MTC is a mortal disease with no cure. In this study, glycosphingolipids were isolated from human MTCs and characterized by mass spectrometry and binding of carbohydrate recognizing ligands. The tissue distribution of selected compounds was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The amount of acid glycosphingolipids in the MTCs was higher than in the normal thyroid glands. The major acid glycosphingolipid was the GD3 ganglioside. Sulfatide and the gangliosides GM3 and GD1a were also present. The majority of the complex non-acid glycosphingolipids had type 2 (Galβ4GlcNAc) core chains, i.e., the neolactotetraosylceramide, the Lex, H type 2 and x2 pentaosylceramides, the Ley and A type 2 hexaosylceramides, and the A type 2 heptaosylceramide. There were also compounds with globo (GalαGalβ4Glc) core, i.e., globotriaosylceramide, globotetraosylceramide, the Forssman pentaosylceramide, and the Globo H hexaosylceramide. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated an extensive expression av Ley in the MTC cells and also a variable intensity and prevalence of Globo H and Lex. One individual with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B expressed the Forssman determinant, which is rarely found in humans. This study of human MTC glycosphingolipids identifies glycans that could serve as potential tumor-specific markers.

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Usefulness of preoperative serum calcitonin in patients with nodular thyroid disease without suspicious history or cytology for medullary thyroid carcinoma

Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia ◽

10.1590/s0004-27302013000400006 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 312-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pedro Weslley Rosário ◽

Gustavo Cancela Penna ◽

Kamilla Brandão ◽

Bárbara Érika Souza

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Carcinoma ◽

Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma ◽

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia ◽

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type ◽

Serum Calcitonin ◽

Medullary Thyroid ◽

Endocrine Neoplasia ◽

Preoperative Serum ◽

History Of

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of preoperative serum calcitonin (sCT) in patients with nodular disease without suspicion of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in history or cytology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: sCT was measured before thyroidectomy in 494 patients with nodular disease who had no family history of MTC or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, and no cytological suspicion of MTC. RESULTS: Basal sCT was < 10 ng/mL in 482 patients and none of them had MTC. One patient with basal sCT > 100 pg/mL had MTC. Among the 11 patients with basal sCT between 10 and 100 pg/mL, MTC was diagnosed in only one. The two patients with MTC were submitted to total thyroidectomy, combined with elective lymph node dissection indicated exclusively based on hypercalcitoninemia, and sCT was undetectable after six months. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative sCT is useful for the detection of sporadic MTC in patients with nodular disease, even in the absence of suspicious history or cytology.

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