Prognostic Value and Dynamics of Antithyroglobulin Antibodies for Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: The clinical value of antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) as a tumor marker for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is still controversial. Materials & methods: We studied 110 TgAb positive DTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and ¹³¹I therapies. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to analyze the association between prognostic factors and disease outcomes. Results & conclusion: Pre-ablation TgAb levels and the changes of TgAb in 6–12 months after the first ¹³¹I therapy were risk factors for disease outcome in patients younger than 55, while extrathyroid extension was a risk factor in patients older than 55. The median TgAb half-life was 7.7 months and the median time for TgAb positivity to become negative was 15.8 months. The dynamics of TgAb within the first year after remnant ablation could predict disease outcome for DTC patients.

Keywords:

• ¹³¹I therapy
• antithyroglobulin antibody
• differentiated thyroid cancer
• half-life
• thyroglobulin

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/bmm-2020-0432

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China grants (#81571709 and #81971650 to Z Meng, #81872235 to L Zhao, #81872169 to X Zheng), Key Project of Tianjin Science and Technology Committee Foundation grant (#16JCZDJC34300 to Z Meng), Tianjin Science and Technology Committee Foundation grants (#17JCYBJC25400 to Y Fan, #19JCYBJC27400 to X Zheng), Tianjin Medical University General Hospital New Century Excellent Talent Program (to Z Meng), Young and Middle-aged Innovative Talent Training Program from Tianjin Education Committee (to Z Meng) and Talent Fostering Program (the 131 Project) from Tianjin Education Committee, Tianjin Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (to Z Meng). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The institutional review board and ethic committee of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital approved the ethical, methodologic and protocol aspects of this investigation. The authors confirm that all methods in the current study were carried out in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China grants (#81571709 and #81971650 to Z Meng, #81872235 to L Zhao, #81872169 to X Zheng), Key Project of Tianjin Science and Technology Committee Foundation grant (#16JCZDJC34300 to Z Meng), Tianjin Science and Technology Committee Foundation grants (#17JCYBJC25400 to Y Fan, #19JCYBJC27400 to X Zheng), Tianjin Medical University General Hospital New Century Excellent Talent Program (to Z Meng), Young and Middle-aged Innovative Talent Training Program from Tianjin Education Committee (to Z Meng) and Talent Fostering Program (the 131 Project) from Tianjin Education Committee, Tianjin Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (to Z Meng). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.