Abstract
Background
Tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is an aggressive subtype of papillary
thyroid carcinoma. We examined expression of cancer stem cell markers in tall cell
variant compared with other well-differentiated thyroid cancers.
Methods
Expression of cancer stem cell markers was examined in 572 thyroid tumors from The
Cancer Genome Atlas Thyroid Cancer database and tall cell variant and papillary thyroid
carcinoma tumors by immunohistochemistry.
Results
Expression of the PROM1 gene, encoding the cancer stem cell marker CD133, was elevated in tall cell variant
compared to classic papillary thyroid carcinoma in a large cohort of unmatched samples
from The Cancer Genome Atlas Thyroid Cancer database (P < .001). By immunohistochemistry in age and stage matched samples, CD133 protein
was confirmed to be significantly increased in tall cell variant versus classic papillary
thyroid carcinoma (P = .006). Analyzing all thyroid cancers, high PROM1 expression was associated with worse disease-specific survival. Optimal cutoffs were
determined to define a tall cell variant-like cancer stem cell signature characterized
by high PROM1, high ALDH1A3, and low CD24 expression. Classic papillary thyroid carcinoma with a tall cell variant-like gene
signature had worse recurrence disease-free survival compared to classic papillary
thyroid carcinoma with a non-tall cell variant signature (P = .02).
Conclusion
Tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma has increased expression of cancer
stem cell markers compared to classic papillary thyroid carcinoma. The tall cell variant-like
cancer stem cell gene signature identified a molecular subtype of classic papillary
thyroid carcinoma that has a worse recurrence-free survival.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 03, 2021
Accepted:
March 23,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
