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Horm Metab Res
DOI: 10.1055/a-2278-6549
Original Article: Endocrine Care

Thyroglobulin Antibodies and Tumor Epitope-Specific Cellular Immunity in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Stephanie Allelein‡
1   Division for Specific Endocrinology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
,
Margret Ehlers‡
1   Division for Specific Endocrinology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
,
Taina Thoma
1   Division for Specific Endocrinology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
,
Katalin Mattes-György
2   Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
,
Christina Antke
2   Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
,
Eduards Mamlins
2   Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
,
Mareike Muchalla
1   Division for Specific Endocrinology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
,
Frederik Giesel
2   Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
,
Matthias Schott
1   Division for Specific Endocrinology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
› Author Affiliations Funding Information Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf — http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003484;
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Abstract

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is characterized by T cell infiltration and frequently by the presence of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAbs). The role of cellular immunity and of TbAbs in this context is a matter of debate. The aim of our study was to correlate the presence of TgAbs, tumor epitope-specific T cells and the clinical outcome of PTC patients. We studied n=183 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of PTC which were treated with total thyroidectomy plus 131I ablation. During a follow-up of in mean 97 months, most of the PTC patients had no signs of tumor relapse (n=157 patients). In contrast, one patient had serum Tg levels above the detection limit and<1 ng/ml, two patients Tg serum levels≥1 ng/ml and<2 ng/ml and n=23 patients had Tg serum levels≥2 ng/ml. Morphological signs of tumor recurrence were seen in 14 patients; all of these patients had serum Tg levels≥2 ng/ml. Importantly, with the exception of one patient, all TgAb positive PTC patients (n=27) had no signs of tumor recurrence as the serum Tg levels were below the assays functional sensitivities. Tetramer analyses revealed a higher number of tumor epitope-specific CD8+T cells in TgAb positive patients compared to TgAb negative PTC patients. In summary, we show that the occurrence of TgAbs may have an impact on the clinical outcome in PTC patients. This might be due to a tumor epitope-specific cellular immunity in PTC patients.

Keywords

papillary thyroid carcinoma - thyroglobulin antibodies - antitumor immunity - tetramer analyses


Publication History

Received: 14 February 2024

Accepted: 26 February 2024

Article published online:
15 April 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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