Determination of galectin-3, hepsin and thyroid transcription factor-1 levels in thyroid cancer patients; A prospective case-control study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to the efficiacy of usage galectin-3, hepsin, and thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) levels as markers for the differentiation between patients with malignant and benign thyroid nodules. Methods: The study was done prospectively between January 2018 and April 2018 in our clinic, in patients who were diagnosed with thyroid nodules and scheduled for surgery. Galectin-3, hepsin, and TTF-1 levels were measured in the preoperative serum of the benign and malignant groups. The measured levels were evaluated statistically to determine whether there was any significant difference between the malignant and benign groups. Results: When the levels of galectin-3, hepsin, and TTF-1 in the malignant and benign groups were compared, there was a statistically significant difference in TTF-1 levels (p=0.038). However, no significant difference was found in hepsin and galectin-3. When the macropapillary and micropapillary types were compared within the malignant patient group, there was a significant difference between the galectin-3 levels (p = 0.009), but no difference was found between hepsin and TTF-1. Conclusions: It was seen that the decrease of galectin-3 levels in thyroid papillary carcinoma could be effective in the transformation from microcarcinoma to macrocarcinoma, and TTF-1 could be an important marker for the differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.