Endocrinol Metab.  2020 Jun;35(2):396-406. 10.3803/EnM.2020.35.2.396.

Serum Adiponectin and Progranulin Level in Patients with Benign Thyroid Nodule or Papillary Thyroid Cancer

• Kwon H
• Park SE
• Yun JS
• Park CY

• KMID: 2503270
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2020.35.2.396

Abstract

Background
Obesity is associated with thyroid cancer risk. Adiponectin has insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory effects, while progranulin is associated with inflammation and tumorigenesis. We investigated serum adiponectin and progranulin levels in patients with benign thyroid nodule (benign group) and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC; PTC group). The associations between these levels and the clinicopathological features of PTC were evaluated.
Methods
We included 157 patients who underwent thyroid surgery (17% of benign and 83% of PTC group). Clinicopathological features including size, lymph node metastasis, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), multifocality, American Thyroid Association risk stratification were evaluated.
Results
The age was 42.0 years, and 69% were female. Serum adiponectin and progranulin levels were 6.3 μg/mL and 101.5 ng/mL in the benign group and 5.4 μg/mL and 106.1 ng/mL in the PTC group, respectively (P=0.6 and P=0.4, respectively). Serum adiponectin levels showed no significant differences according to clinicopathological features of PTC. The proportions of patients with primary tumor size >1 cm were 3%, 5%, 8%, and 8% according to serum progranulin level quartiles, respectively (P=0.03). The proportions of patients with microscopic/gross ETE were 8%/0%, 9%/1%, 11%/1%, and 11%/2% according to serum progranulin level quartiles, respectively. Median serum progranulin level was significantly higher in patients with PTC >1 cm than in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (P=0.04, 115.3 ng/mL and 104.7 ng/mL, respectively).
Conclusion
Serum adiponectin and progranulin levels showed no significant difference between benign and PTC groups. Increased serum progranulin levels were significantly associated with PTC >1 cm and microscopic and gross ETE.

Keyword

Obesity; Thyroid neoplasms; Adiponectin; Adiponectin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Serum adiponectin level in patients with benign thyroid nodule or papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). (B) Serum progranulin level in patients with benign thyroid nodule or papillary thyroid cancer. Error bars show medians and interquartile ranges.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Correlation analysis between serum adiponectin level and primary tumor size in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). (B) Serum adiponectin level in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and PTC >1 cm. (C) Correlation analysis between serum progranulin level and primary tumor size in patients with papillary thyroid cancer. (D) Serum progranulin level in patients with PTMC and PTC >1 cm. Error bars of (B) and (D) show medians and interquartile ranges.

• 

  Fig. 3 Serum adiponectin level in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) according to (A) cervical lymph node metastasis, (B) extrathyroidal extension, (C) multifocality, and (D) American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk stratification. Error bars mean medians and interquartile ranges.

• 

  Fig. 4 Serum progranulin level in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) according to (A) cervical lymph node metastasis, (B) extrathyroidal extension, (C) multifocality, and (D) American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk stratification. Error bars mean medians and interquartile ranges. LN, lymph node.

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