Evaluating the Role of DPP-4, NIS, and TSH-R Expression in Predicting Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

Kirman D., Coşkun M., Cerit E. T., İnan M. A., Poyraz A., Karakoç M. A.

Endocrinology research and practice, cilt.29, sa.3, ss.229-234, 2025 (ESCI)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 29 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.5152/erp.2025.25644
  • Dergi Adı: Endocrinology research and practice
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.229-234
  • Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: This study aims to compare the expression levels of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4),

sodium-iodide symporter (NIS), and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) in papillary thyroid

microcarcinoma (PTMC) patients with and without lymph node (LN) metastasis and to evaluate

the impact of these parameters on disease prognosis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 122 patients with PTMC. Immunohistochemical

staining was used to analyze DPP-4, NIS, and TSH-R expression levels and assess their relationship

with LN metastasis.

Results: Lymph node metastasis was present in 18.0% of the patients, while 82.0% had no metastasis.

Lymph node metastasis was significantly more frequent in males (P = .031), patients with elevated

TSH levels (P = .022), those with multiple tumor foci (P = .036), and in patients with larger tumor size

(P = .013). Patients with high TSH-R expression intensity showed a significantly increased rate of LN

metastasis (P = .042). No significant relationship was observed between LN metastasis and staining

scores for NIS in surrounding or tumor tissue, nor for DPP-4.

Conclusion: Male gender, elevated TSH levels, multiple tumor foci, increased tumor size, and high

TSH-R expression are significantly associated with LN metastasis in PTMC patients. These findings

suggest that TSH-R expression may serve as a potential indicator for PTMC prognosis, although further

studies with larger patient cohorts are required to confirm these findings.