Prognostic factors in children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid cancer treated with total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy: a retrospective two-center study from China.

Purpose: This two-center study aimed to explore the main prognostic factors affecting the final disease status in children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid cancer (caDTC) following total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy (RAIT). Materials and methods: All caDTC patients from two centers in the period from 2004-2022 were retrospectively included. At the last follow-up, the patients' disease status was assessed and classified as an incomplete response (IR) or as an excellent or indeterminate response (EIDR). Then, the difference in preablation stimulated thyroglobulin (ps-Tg) levels between the two groups was compared, and the threshold for predicting IR was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the factors influencing the patients' ultimate disease outcomes. Results: A total of 143 patients (98 females, 45 males; median age 16 years) were recruited. After a median follow-up of 42.9 months, 80 patients (55.9%) exhibited an EIDR, whereas 63 patients (44.1%) exhibited an IR. Patients with an IR had significantly greater ps-Tg levels than did those with an EIDR (median ps-Tg 79.2 ng/mL vs. 9.3 ng/mL, p<0.001). The ROC curve showed that ps-Tg ≥20 ng/mL was the most accurate for predicting IR at the last follow-up. According to multivariate analysis, only ps-Tg, T stage and the therapeutic response to initial RAIT were significantly associated with IR. Conclusion: In caDTC patients, the ps-Tg level, T stage, and response to initial RAIT are critical final outcome indicators.

Stimulated thyroglobulin and pre-ablation antithyroglobulin antibody products can predict the response to radioiodine therapy of TgAb-positive differentiated thyroid cancer patients: a retrospective study.

Objective: We aimed to explore the predictive value of stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) and pre-ablation antithyroglobulin (pa-TgAb) products for the effect of radioiodine therapy (RAIT) on TgAb-positive differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. Methods: In this study, we enrolled 265 patients with TgAb-positive DTC who underwent RAIT after total thyroidectomy (TT). Based on the last follow-up result, the patients were divided into two groups: the excellent response (ER) group and the non-excellent response (NER) group. We analyzed the factors related to the effect of RAIT. Results: The ER group consisted of 197 patients. The NER group consisted of 68 patients. For the univariate analysis, we found that the maximal tumor diameter, whether with extrathyroidal extension (ETE), bilateral or unilateral primary lesion, multifocality, preoperative TgAb (preop-TgAb), pa-TgAb, sTg × pa-TgAb, initial RAIT dose, N stage, and surgical extent (modified radical neck dissection or not), showed significant differences between the ER group and NER group (all p-values <0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that the cutoff value was 724.25 IU/ml, 424.00 IU/ml, and 59.73 for preop-TgAb, pa-TgAb, and sTg × pa-TgAb, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis results indicated that pa-TgAb, sTg × pa-TgAb, initial RAIT dose, and N stage were independent risk factors for NER (all p-values <0.05). For the Kaplan-Meier analysis of disease-free survival (DFS), the median DFS of the patients with sTg × pa-TgAb < 59.73 and initial RAIT dose ≤ 100 mCi was significantly longer than that of the patients with sTg × pa-TgAb ≥ 59.73 (50.27 months vs. 48.59 months, p = 0.041) and initial RAIT dose >100 mCi (50.50 months vs. 38.00 months, p = 0.030). Conclusion: We found the sTg and pa-TgAb conducts is a good predictor of the efficacy of RAIT in TgAb-positive DTC patients. It can play a very positive and important role in optimizing treatment, improving prognosis, and reducing the burden of patients.

Efficacy evaluation and influencing factor analysis of postoperative 131I for the treatment of primary hyperthyroidism combined with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)-a retrospective cohort study.

Background: 131I treatment is one of the important methods of comprehensive postoperative treatment for patients with hyperthyroidism complicated with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Early identification of patients with poor treatment efficacy of 131I is particularly important. Current studies mainly focus on the relationship between hyperthyroidism and the occurrence and development of DTC, and there are few studies on the factors affecting the curative effect. The purpose of this study was to find the influencing factors of efficacy evaluation and provide evidence for early identification of patients with poor efficacy in DTC combined with primary hyperthyroidism patients. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of DTC patients with primary hyperthyroidism who received 131I treatment in our department from 2012 to 2021. Follow-up intervals were 3 months within 1 year, 6 months within 1 to 2 years, and annual follow-up thereafter, the median follow-up time was 12.0 (3.0, 24.0) months. Serological examination and imaging examination were used to evaluate the efficacy. Patients were classified into an excellent response (ER) group and a non-ER group based on treatment response more than 6 months after 131I treatment. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed on the basic clinical characteristics, pathological characteristics and curative effect of the patients, in order to find independent risk factors affecting the curative effect. Results: Eighty-nine patients were mostly female (80.9%), the average age was 43.47±11.88 years old, and tumor size was 1.2 (0.75, 1.80) cm, 56 patients (62.9%) in the ER group. psTg [odds ratio (OR): 1.325; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.135-1.547; P<0.001], maximum tumor diameter (OR: 2.428; 95% CI: 1.392-4.235; P=0.002) and pathology-confirmed combined HT (OR: 8.669; 95% CI: 1.877-40.038; P=0.006) were independent risk factors for predicting ER. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that most hyperthyroidism combined with DTC patients could get favorable clinical outcomes from 131I treatment. The tumor diameter, pathology-confirmed diagnosis of combined HT, and psTg level can be used to identify patients who can get ER by the effect of 131I in hyperthyroidism combined with DTC at an early stage.

The influence of stimulated thyroglobulin and lymphocyte subsets before radioiodine therapy on the therapeutic response in patients with intermediate- and high-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors influencing the short-term response to the initial radioiodine therapy (RT) course in patients with intermediate- and high-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). A total of 182 patients with intermediate- and high-risk PTC who underwent RT in our hospital from March 2018 to October 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were divided into incomplete response (IR) and nonincomplete response (Non-IR) groups according to the response observed in clinical follow-up within 6-12 months after RT. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the effects of 15 observed factors on the response to RT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the value of factors found to be significant in multivariate analyses for predicting an IR. A total of 182 patients with intermediate- and high-risk PTC were analyzed; the percentage of patients with a Non-IR was 61.54% (112/182), and the percentage of patients with an IR was 38.46% (70/182). The CD4+ T-cell percentage (t = 4.757, P = 0.000), CD4/CD8 (z = - 2.632, P = 0.008), stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) level (z = - 8.273, P = 0.000) and M stage (χ2 = 17.823, P = 0.000) of the two groups were significantly different. Multivariate analysis showed that only the sTg level (OR: 1.116, 95% CI 1.068-1.165, P < 0.001) and CD4+ T-cell percentage (OR: 0.909, 95% CI 0.854-0.968, P = 0.003) were independent factors associated with the therapeutic response to RT. The cutoff sTg level and CD4+ T-cell percentage for predicting an IR were 7.62 µg/L and 40.95%, respectively. The sTg level and CD4+ T-cell percentage were verified to be independent predictive factors of RT response. Higher sTg levels and lower CD4+ T-cell percentages were related to an IR in patients with intermediate- and high-risk PTC.

Percutaneous microwave ablation combined with synchronous transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases: results from a follow-up cohort.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) combined with synchronous transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 30 patients who were treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA combined with synchronous TACE for colorectal cancer liver metastases from November 2011 to December 2014 in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. The response of the tumor to treatment was evaluated by follow-up computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Local tumor control, procedure-related complications, and long-term survival data were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients with 43 tumors ranging in size from 1.4 cm to 10.0 cm were analyzed. The patients' mean age was 61.6±10.3 years (range, 44.0-78.0 years). The median follow-up time was 26.5±10.4 months (range, 13.3-50.6 months). The complete ablation rate was 81.4% (35/43 lesions) for CRLM. Complete response was achieved in eight cases (26.7%), and partial response was achieved in 17 cases (56.7%) 1 month after the procedure. The objective response rate (complete response + partial response) was 83.4%. Progression-free survival and overall survival were 5.0 months and 11.0 months, respectively. The 12-month and 24-month survival rates were 46.7% and 25.4%, respectively. A total of 22 patients succumbed during follow-up due to tumor progression. No major complications or perioperative mortalities were recorded. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA combined with synchronous TACE therapy is a safe and effective modality for patients with CRLM.

Combination Therapies in the Management of Large (≥ 5 cm) Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Microwave Ablation Immediately Followed by Transarterial Chemoembolization.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of microwave (MW) ablation combined with transarterial chemoembolization in a single stage for the treatment of large (≥ 5 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2013 to January 2015, 66 patients (54 men and 12 women; mean age, 54 y; range, 29-83 y) with 72 large HCC lesions were included in this study. Eighteen (27.3%) had Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer class B disease, and 48 (72.7%) had class C disease. Seventy-nine percent of patients (n = 52) had hepatitis B virus infection. The average tumor size was 9.0 cm ± 3.9, ranging from 5 to 19 cm. MW ablation was performed under ultrasound guidance, immediately followed by chemoembolization. Local tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed. RESULTS: The technique was successfully performed in all patients. Complete response (CR) was achieved in 28 cases (42.4%), and partial response (PR) was achieved in 34 cases (51.5%) at 1 month after the procedure. The objective response rate (ie, CR plus PR) was 93.9%. Median PFS and OS times were 9 months and 21 months, respectively. The 6-, 12-, and 18-month OS rates were 93.9%, 85.3%, and 66.6%, respectively. Hemorrhage was detected in three patients and arteriovenous fistula in two patients after MW ablation; all were promptly treated with embolization. There were no liver abscesses, bile-duct injuries, or other major procedure-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: MW ablation immediately followed by chemoembolization is safe and effective in the treatment of large HCC lesions.