ObjectiveTo summarize the role of circular RNA (circRNAs) in thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) and the emphasis of future research.MethodRelevant literatures in recent years about the biological function of circRNA and its role in PTC were reviewed.ResultscircRNAs had abnormal expression in PTC tissues. Besides, by working as miRNA sponges or interacting with RNA-binding proteins, circRNAs regulated the expression of proteins that were associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis, which could affect the biological characteristics of tumor cells.ConclusioncircRNAs are expected to be the biomarkers for early diagnosis of PTC or potential targets for PTC therapy and provid therapeutic bases to prevent PTC.
ObjectiveTo understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis and progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and provide candidate targets for diagnosis and treatment of PTC.MethodsTo identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the carcinogenesis and progression of PTC, the study was carried by analyzing the microarray datasets downloaded from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database, and making a series of studies including the protein-protein interaction network, KEGG and GO enrichment analyses of DEGs.ResultsA total of 339 DEGs and 10 hub genes were identified. While the expression of KIT was downregulated in the samples of PTC, the figures for FN1, CCND1, TIMP1, ICAM1, APOE, MET, RUNX2, KRT19 and SERPINA1 were upregulated. After the hypothesis test was corrected by multiple tests, the results showed that the changes of APOE [false discovery rate (FDR)=0.047 5] and KIT (FDR=0.042 0) gene expression had a certain impact on recurrence free survival (RFS) of PTC patients, which was statistically significant.ConclusionsSurvival analysis showed that FN1, ICAM1, APOE, MET, KRT19, KIT and SERPINA1 may be involved in the carcinogenesis or prognosis of PTC. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the biological function of these genes in PTC.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinicopathological characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in adolescents and analyze the risk factors affecting lateral lymph node metastasis and prognosis. MethodsIn retrospectively, 150 adolescent PTC patients admitted to the Department of Thyroid Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2012 to January 2022 and meeting the inclusion and exclusion criterias were collected as the study subjects (adolescent group), and 100 adult PTC patients (adult group) were randomly selected. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 25.0 software to compare the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients in the two groups, and to explore the risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis and recurrence in adolescent PTC patients by using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models, respectively. ResultsAdolescents with PTC were more prone to extrandular invasion [30.0% (45/150) versus 17.0% (17/100), P=0.020], neck lymph node metastasis [79.3% (119/150) versus 48.0% (48/100), P<0.001], central lymph node metastasis [78.7% (118/150) versus 48.0% (48/100), P<0.001], lateral lymph node metastasis [44.0% (66/150) versus 12.0% (12/100), P<0.001]; and had a greater maximum tumor diameter (1.75 cm versus 0.75 cm) and higher ratio of greater maximum tumor diameter ＞2 cm [（45.3% (68/150) versus 8.0% (8/100), P＜0.001] in adolescent PTC patients. In adolescent PTC patients, extraglandular invasion (OR=2.654, P=0.022), multifoci (OR=4.860, P<0.001) and maximum tumor diameter>2 cm (OR=3.845, P=0.001) were risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis; lateral lymph node metastasis (RR=10.105, P=0.040) and distant metastasis (RR=7.058, P=0.003) were predictors of postoperative recurrence in adolescent PTC patients. ConclusionsCompared with adult PTC patients, adolescent PTC patients have more aggressive tumors. Adolescent PTC with extraglandular invasion, multilesions, and maximum tumor diameter>2 cm should be considered for lateral lymph node dissection; and adolescent PTC patients with lateral lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis should pay close attention to their recurrence status.