Key Points
• Source: Journal of Translational Medicine
• Relevance: “Our findings comprehensively define the clinical and molecular features of PTMC [papillary thyroid microcarcinoma] and may inspire new therapeutic hypotheses.”
• In this novel study, Chinese researchers profiled the first and largest Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma Exome and Transcriptome Atlas (PTMETA). They elucidated transcriptomic and genomic features that could affect the therapeutic options available to cancer patients.
• “Surprisingly, integrated analyses of multi-omic data revealed genomic and transcriptomic features of PTMC and identified a unique subgroup with distinct biology and clinical behavior, which in turn may provide a way for individualized intervention,” the authors wrote. “In addition to the presence of BRAF mutations and RET fusions in the TCGA cohort, we also discovered a new molecular signature named PTMC-inflammatory that implies a potential response to immune intervention, which is enriched with AFP mutations, IGH@-ext fusions, elevated immune-related genes, positive peroxidase antibody, and positive thyroglobulin antibody.”
• The researchers divided PTMC patients into 2 subtypes based on clinicopathological features, gene expressions, genomic alterations, immunotherapeutic responses, and immune microenvironment patterns. They also proposed a molecular prediction model for individualized integrative assessment.
• Their findings shed light on the molecular signatures in PTMC, as well as new perspectives on the molecular mechanism for future research and relevant immunotherapy in PTMC.
• One limitation of the current study is the paucity of treatment and survival data because of short follow-up duration. Consequently, it was hard to elucidate the true value of biomarkers.