Publications by authors named "Elena M Morariu"
BRAFK601E is an uncommon mutation typically found in encapsulated follicular-patterned thyroid tumors. Previous studies on BRAFK601E-positive thyroid tumors were conducted before the implementation of the non-invasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) diagnosis. This study aimed to characterize BRAFK601E-positive tumors and evaluate changes in the diagnosis and management of these patients after the introduction of NIFTP.
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- The study investigates how molecular tests, like ThyroSeq v3, can help assess risks of malignancy in indeterminate thyroid cytopathology cases, providing a more accurate risk probability compared to traditional methods.
- Results showed that molecular-derived risk of malignancy (MDROM) rates for various cytopathologic diagnoses were generally within established reference ranges, but the positive call rates (PCR) varied more significantly among cytopathologists, particularly for atypia of undetermined significance (AUS).
- The findings suggest that MDROMs and PCRs can serve as valuable metrics for evaluating cytopathologists’ performance and improving overall quality in diagnosing thyroid conditions.
Molecular Testing Predicts Incomplete Response to Initial Therapy in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Without Lateral Neck or Distant Metastasis at Presentation: Retrospective Cohort Study.
Jason B Liu Katherine A Baugh Kimberly M Ramonell Kelly L McCoy Esra Karslioglu-French Elena M Morariu
Thyroid
June 2023
Article Synopsis
- Molecular testing (MT) shows promise as a tool to assess the risk of recurrence in differentiated thyroid carcinoma before starting treatment, in addition to traditional preoperative factors.* -
- In a study of 945 patients, tumor size emerged as the primary predictor of recurrence, while incorporating MT results improved predictive accuracy in a subset of patients.* -
- The study found that recurrences were present across all risk categories defined by the American Thyroid Association (ATA) Risk Stratification System (RSS), highlighting the importance of tumor size and MT for predicting disease outcomes.*
Article Synopsis
- Molecular testing enhances the diagnostic precision for thyroid cancer, prompting a need to explore its links to tumor characteristics and prognostic outcomes.
- In a study of 578 thyroid cancer patients who underwent genetic testing, cancers were classified into three risk groups: low (49.9%), intermediate (37.5%), and high (12.6%), with a 9.1% recurrence rate observed during a median follow-up of 19 months.
- Results indicated that higher-risk groups were associated with older age, more aggressive tumor features (like vascular invasion), and significantly greater recurrence likelihood compared to lower-risk groups.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP), which was redefined in 2016, and assesses patients diagnosed during surgery rather than retrospectively like previous studies.
- A total of 79 patients with a mean age of 51 years were included, the majority being women, and their NIFTP nodules averaged 2.4 cm in size, with many categorized as either TI-RADS 3 or 4 on ultrasound.
- Molecular testing revealed significant genetic alterations in 93.5% of the nodules, with common mutations and fusions identified, and patients were primarily treated via lobectomy or total thyroidectomy, with close follow-up planned for
Article Synopsis
- Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) shows significant DNA copy number alterations (CNA) predominantly of genome haploidization type, with a notable occurrence in Hürthle cell adenomas (HCA), while being absent in Hürthle cell hyperplastic nodules (HCHN).* -
- In a study analyzing FNA samples, 34% of nodules with CNA were found to be malignant, and the likelihood of cancer increased with the size of the nodules, especially in those with GH-type CNA.* -
- Overall, the presence of CNA, combined with other genetic mutations and nodule size, provides valuable insights for predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules.*
Article Synopsis
- Thyroid adenoma-associated gene fusions are linked to thyroid cancers, but details about their frequency and related clinical features are not fully understood.
- A study examined 30 thyroid nodules identified as positive for these fusions through molecular testing, revealing that most had uncertain diagnoses, with a small percentage being malignant.
- Surgical outcomes showed that a majority underwent surgery, with about a third diagnosed as malignant; follow-up data indicated that these malignancies typically did not exhibit aggressive behaviors.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to examine menstrual irregularities, reproductive issues, and androgen levels in women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared to women without diabetes, using surveys to collect data on menstrual and reproductive histories.
- - Results showed no significant differences in menstrual cycle characteristics or androgen levels between the two groups, but women with T1D who struggled with blood sugar control reported more irregular periods and fewer pregnancies and live births.
- - The findings suggest that while menstrual and reproductive abnormalities aren't generally more common in women with T1D, those with perceived poor diabetes management may experience subtle issues; further research is recommended to explore these themes.
Article Synopsis
- EGF receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is linked to aggressive tumor behavior in various cancers, and this study focuses on its role in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) through Src family kinases (SFKs).
- Treatment with dasatinib, an SFK inhibitor, significantly reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HNSCC models expressing EGFRvIII, leading to smaller tumor sizes in animal models.
- The study identifies Lyn kinase as a key player in the progression of EGFRvIII-expressing HNSCC, suggesting that targeting SFK, particularly Lyn, could be a promising therapeutic approach.