Objective:To compare the benefits and prognostic risks of unilateral lobectomy (with or without isthmusectomy) or total (or near-total) thyroidectomy for primary foci of unilateral papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with ipsilateral lateral cervical lymph node metastasis (LLNM) , so as to find out the optimal surgery for these patients.Methods:A total of 505 unilateral PTC patients with ipsilateral LLNM who underwent initial surgical treatment at the Thyroid Surgery Department of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from Feb. 2012 to Jan. 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into unilateral lobectomy group ( n=314) and total thyroidectomy group ( n=191) according to the extent of resection of primary foci. Then 177 pairs of cases were screened out after eliminating the potential confounding bias between the two groups by using propensity score matching (PSM) , analyzing the differences in clinical outcomes such as recurrence-free survival (RFS) , overall survival (OS) , hospitalization costs, and postoperative complications between the two groups. Results:After PSM, the postoperative complication rate was 37.3% ( n=66) in the total thyroidectomy group and 3.4% ( n=6) in the unilateral lobectomy group. The complication was mainly characterized by temporary hypoparathyroidism (HP) . Although the difference in length of hospitalization between the two groups was not statistically significant ( P=0.792) , patients in the unilateral lobectomy group used less surgical time ( P<0.001) , had lower hospitalization and surgical costs ( P<0.0001) , and took a relatively smaller dose of levothyroxine (L-T4) one month after the operation ( P<0.0001) , as compared with the total thyroidectomy group. Univariate analysis showed that the number of LLNM total lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate, LLNM rate, and T stage were significant risk factors for relapse. Multi-factor regression analysis indicated that T-staging was a risk factor for recurrence. After a median follow-up of 60 (3-138) months, 19 patients (10.7%) in the unilateral lobectomy group and 11 patients (6.2%) in the total thyroidectomy group recurred, with no statistical difference between the two groups ( P=0.133) . The OS curve displayed no significant difference between the unilateral lobectomy and total thyroidectomy groups ( P=0.740) . Conclusion:For unilateral PTC patients with ipsilateral LLNM without other high-risk features, unilateral lobectomy could be a better option.

Objective:To investigate the expression of transcription factor Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 4 (ZBTB4) in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its relationship with the clinicopathological features of the tumor.Methods:Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess ZBTB4 protein of cancerous tissues and paired-normal tissues extracted from surgical samples of 60 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (30 classical and 30 with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) . Fresh tissue samples were collected from above patients, and the expression of ZBTB4 gene mRNA and ZBTB4 protein in cancerous tissues was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot methods. SPSS statistical software was used to analyze the relationship between the expression level of this gene in tumor tissues, clinicopathological features and tumor prognosis.Results:Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of ZBTB4 protein in papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal thyroid tissues (25.0% vs. 3.3%, P=0.001) . The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of ZBTB4 gene mRNA in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in normal thyroid tissues ( P<0.001) . There was no significant difference in the expression level of ZBTB4 between patients with classical papillary carcinoma and those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Multivariate analysis showed that the patients with higher expression of ZBTB4 had relatively smaller tumor diameter ( t=2.31, P=0.025) and less lateral cervical lymph node metastasis ( t=4.13, P=0.042) . Conclusions:Patients with higher ZBTB4 expression level have better outcome, as reflected in smaller tumor diameter and lower rates of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis. The molecular mechanism of ZBTB4 gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma needs further study.

Objective:To compare the benefits and prognostic risks of unilateral lobectomy (with or without isthmusectomy) or total (or near-total) thyroidectomy for primary foci of unilateral papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with ipsilateral lateral cervical lymph node metastasis (LLNM) , so as to find out the optimal surgery for these patients.Methods:A total of 505 unilateral PTC patients with ipsilateral LLNM who underwent initial surgical treatment at the Thyroid Surgery Department of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from Feb. 2012 to Jan. 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into unilateral lobectomy group ( n=314) and total thyroidectomy group ( n=191) according to the extent of resection of primary foci. Then 177 pairs of cases were screened out after eliminating the potential confounding bias between the two groups by using propensity score matching (PSM) , analyzing the differences in clinical outcomes such as recurrence-free survival (RFS) , overall survival (OS) , hospitalization costs, and postoperative complications between the two groups. Results:After PSM, the postoperative complication rate was 37.3% ( n=66) in the total thyroidectomy group and 3.4% ( n=6) in the unilateral lobectomy group. The complication was mainly characterized by temporary hypoparathyroidism (HP) . Although the difference in length of hospitalization between the two groups was not statistically significant ( P=0.792) , patients in the unilateral lobectomy group used less surgical time ( P<0.001) , had lower hospitalization and surgical costs ( P<0.0001) , and took a relatively smaller dose of levothyroxine (L-T4) one month after the operation ( P<0.0001) , as compared with the total thyroidectomy group. Univariate analysis showed that the number of LLNM total lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate, LLNM rate, and T stage were significant risk factors for relapse. Multi-factor regression analysis indicated that T-staging was a risk factor for recurrence. After a median follow-up of 60 (3-138) months, 19 patients (10.7%) in the unilateral lobectomy group and 11 patients (6.2%) in the total thyroidectomy group recurred, with no statistical difference between the two groups ( P=0.133) . The OS curve displayed no significant difference between the unilateral lobectomy and total thyroidectomy groups ( P=0.740) . Conclusion:For unilateral PTC patients with ipsilateral LLNM without other high-risk features, unilateral lobectomy could be a better option.

Objective:To investigate the expression of transcription factor Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 4 (ZBTB4) in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its relationship with the clinicopathological features of the tumor.Methods:Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess ZBTB4 protein of cancerous tissues and paired-normal tissues extracted from surgical samples of 60 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (30 classical and 30 with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) . Fresh tissue samples were collected from above patients, and the expression of ZBTB4 gene mRNA and ZBTB4 protein in cancerous tissues was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot methods. SPSS statistical software was used to analyze the relationship between the expression level of this gene in tumor tissues, clinicopathological features and tumor prognosis.Results:Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of ZBTB4 protein in papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal thyroid tissues (25.0% vs. 3.3%, P=0.001) . The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of ZBTB4 gene mRNA in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in normal thyroid tissues ( P<0.001) . There was no significant difference in the expression level of ZBTB4 between patients with classical papillary carcinoma and those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Multivariate analysis showed that the patients with higher expression of ZBTB4 had relatively smaller tumor diameter ( t=2.31, P=0.025) and less lateral cervical lymph node metastasis ( t=4.13, P=0.042) . Conclusions:Patients with higher ZBTB4 expression level have better outcome, as reflected in smaller tumor diameter and lower rates of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis. The molecular mechanism of ZBTB4 gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma needs further study.

Objective:To investigate the distant metastasis after primary treatment of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in children and adolescents.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 180 cases (54 boys and 126 girls, with an age range of 6-18 years) with PTC treated at the Chinese Medical Academy Cancer Hospital and Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2014 was performed. Patients’ clinical and pathological data were collected. The follow-up results were statistically analyzed. The distant metastasis rate during the follow-up period was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Log-Rank test was used for univariate analysis and Cox regression model was established in multivariate analysis.Results:Twenty-four cases (13.3%) had distant metastases during following-up with a median of 92 months. The Log-Rank test showed that the younger age ≤15 years old (χ 2=11.803, P=0.001), the larger tumor diameter >20 mm (χ 2=5.776, P=0.016), multifocal (χ 2=11.205, P=0.001), bilateral tumor distribution (χ 2=19.804, P=0.001), invaded capsule (χ 2=10.808, P=0.001), and bilateral lymph nodes metastasis (χ 2=6.278, P=0.012) were risk factors for distant metastasis after initial treatment. The Cox regression analysis showed that age ≤15 years (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 4.08[1.504-11.111], P=0.006) and bilateral tumor distribution (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 4.77[1.903-11.966], P=0.001) were independent risk factors for distant metastasis after initial treatment. The risk factors for local recurrence and distant metastasis were similar, but the local recurrence could not be a significant predictor for distant metastasis. It was indicated that distant metastasis rate was lower in patients with total thyroidectomy in multifocal lesions groups (χ 2=5.891, P=0.015). Conclusions:Age, tumor size, invaded capsule, bilateral lymph nodes metastasis, multifocal and bilateral lesions are factors for predicting distant metastasis after primary treatment of PTC in children and adolescents. Total thyroidectomy is recommended for patients with multifocal and bilateral lesions.

Objective To investigate the prognosis relevant factors of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).Methods From January 2013 to December 2013,the clinical data of 71 patients with LSCC who were initially treated in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.Results Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in survival rate between the group of supraglottic type and glottic type (60.0% vs.86.3% ,χ2 =6.284,P<0.05),the group of N0 and N+(41.7% vs.86.4% ,χ2 =16.803,P<0.01), the group of early and late stage(93.6% vs.50.0% ,χ2 =19.854,P<0.01).There were no statistically significant differences in survival rate between the group of age ≤50,>50-60,>60-70 and >70(88.9% vs.88.2% vs. 79.3% vs.62.5% ,χ2 =3.909,P>0.05),the group of T1+T2 and T3+T4(83.6% vs.62.5% ,χ2 =3.623,P>0.05),the group of high,medium,low differentiated and unsigned(75.0% vs.69.7% vs.83.3% vs.91.7% ,χ2 =3.780,P>0.05),the group of surgery,radiotherapy and surgery+radiotherapy (74.3% vs.90.9% vs.71.4% , χ2 =2.437,P>0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that age( P =0.003),treatment( P =0.048) had significant effect on the prognosis of patients,but tumor location(P=0.766),T stage(P=0.677),N stage(P=0.482),clinical stage(P=0.825),the degree of pathological differentiation(P=0.206) had no significant effect on the prognosis of patients.Conclusion More aggressive treatment should be supplied for patients with N+,advanced clinical stage and age whom the prognosis are usually poor. In addition, the proportion of tracheal tube extraction should be appreciated.

Objective To investigate the predictive factors for central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC).Methods A retrospective study including 2511 cases of PTMC admitted from Jan.2013 to Jan.2016 were enrolled in our study.Chi-square test was used in univariate analysis.Logistic regression analysis was applied for multivariate analysis.The relation between age,sex,tumor size,multifocality,thyroidal extension,nodular goiter and central lymph node metastasis is analyzed.Results Univariate analysis showed that age,sex,tumor size,multifocality,thyroidal extension and nodular goiter had statistical significance.Age less than 45(P＜0.001,x2=17.442);Male gender(P＜0.001,x2=17.029);Tumor size less than 5 mm (P＜0.001,x2=70.164.);Extrathyroid extension factor (P＜0.001,x2=63.197);Nodular hyperplasia factor (P=0.017,x2=5.611).Multivariate analysis showed there was a significant relationship between multifocality and the central lymph node positivity.The odds ratio (OR) was 1.587 in patients with tumor foci ≥2(P＜0.001).While OR increased sharply near to 3 in patients withtumor foci ≥3(OR=2.730).Tumor size(OR=1.926);Extrathyroid extension(OR=1.606).Conclusions Multifocalty,tumor size and thyroidal extension are the main predicative factors for central lymph node metastasis in PTMC.Among them,tumor foci ≥ 3 is an important predictor.Besides the conventional factors such as tumor size,thyroidal extension etc,multifocalty should also be taken into consideration.

Peripheral blood circulating tumor DNA(ctDNA) is a kind of DNA that is released into the blood circulation system after the tumor cell somatic cell DNA is exfoliated or when the cell apoptosis is released.ctDNA is a characteristic tumor biomarker, known as " liquid biopsy" . It can reflect the invasion and metastasis of the tumor, and can monitor the effect and prognosis of the tumor.The current research is mainly focused on relatively mature breast cancer, lung cancer and other diseases.In this study, the development of ctDNA inspection technology and its current research status at home and abroad are reviewed.

MicroRNA (miRNA) negatively regulates gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.Studies find that the abnormal expression of miR-151-5p in various human tumors may play an important role in the development of human tumors,especially in the invasion and metastasis.Further studies of miR-151-5p contribute to a more in-depth understanding of tumor invasion and metastasis,which have potential value in tumor diagnosis,treatment and prognosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC) and the risk factors of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in PTMC patients.Methods The clinical data of 855 patients with PTMC who underwent prophylactic central lymph node dissection were retrospectively reviewed.Results In the present study,the rate of CLNM was 21.9％ (187/855) in PTMC patients.In the univariate analysis,the incidence of CLNM was significantly higher in male patients,age ＜ 45 years,tumor size ＞ 5 mm,capsular invasion,multiple tumor and intracapsular spread (31.4 ％ vs.19.5 ％,x2 =11.429,P =0.001;29.3 ％ vs.15.9 ％,x2 =22.416,P =0.000;30.0％ vs.14.3％,x2 =30.669,P=0.000;29.4％ vs.16.8％,x2 =19.233,P =0.000;30.0％ vs.19.9％,x2 =8.205,P =0.004;42.9％ vs.21.3 ％,x2 =5.549,P =0.018,respectively).Multivariate analysis showed that male gender,age ＜ 45 years,tumor size ＞ 5mm,multiplicity and capsular invasion were independent risk factors for CLNM in PTMC patients (95％ CI:0.380-0.834,0.349-0.693,1.450-3.060,1.078-2.229,1.024-2.373,respectively).Conclusion A routine prophylactic central lymph node dissection should be considered particularly in male PTMC patients with age ＜45 years,tumor size ＞5 mm,capsular invasion and tumor multiplicity.