The following is a summary of “Enhancing Angioinvasion Assessment in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Via a Biomarker Panel Involving TAC, 8-OHdG, and Sortilin,” published in the July 2024 issue of Endocrinology by Buczyńska, et al.

The aggressiveness and metastatic potential of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) are significantly linked to the presence of angioinvasion. Accurate identification of angioinvasion is crucial for effective treatment planning and prognosis. For a study, researchers sought to investigate the utility of serum biomarkers, including 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and markers of oxidative status (total oxidative capacity, total antioxidant capacity [TAC], and sortilin), as potential indicators of angioinvasion in PTC.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with two groups: 50 patients with angioinvasive PTC (study group) and 30 patients with PTC presenting low-risk features (reference group). Serum levels of the biomarkers were analyzed to assess their association with angioinvasion. Participants were recruited from the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Internal Diseases at the Medical University of Bialystok, Poland, ensuring a diverse clinical sample. The study included 50 patients with angioinvasive PTC and 30 patients with low-risk PTC. Detailed criteria for selection and matching characteristics were recorded. Serum levels of biomarkers were measured to evaluate their relationship with the presence of angioinvasion in PTC. The primary outcome measures were the serum levels of 8-OHdG, total oxidative capacity, TAC, and sortilin.

Serum levels of 8-OHdG and sortilin were significantly higher in patients with angioinvasive PTC, while TAC was notably reduced (all P < .01). A regression analysis combining TAC, 8-OHdG, and sortilin achieved a high area under the curve value of 0.963 for distinguishing angioinvasion.

Assessing TAC, 8-OHdG, and sortilin levels could serve as useful biomarkers for detecting angioinvasion in PTC. The combined evaluation of these biomarkers provides a robust method for identifying angioinvasion, which can aid in risk stratification and personalized treatment planning. Further studies are needed to validate these biomarkers before they can be integrated into routine clinical practice.

Reference: academic.oup.com/jcem/article/109/7/1866/7512030