DETECTION OF THYROGLOBULIN, THYROID PEROXIDASE, AND RET PTC1 MESSENGER-RNA TRANSCRIPTS IN THE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD OF PATIENTS WITH THYROID-DISEASE/

Purpose: Detection of mRNA transcripts for thyroglobulin (TG), thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and RET/PTC1 in the peripheral blood of patients wit h thyroid disease. Patients and Methods: TG, TPO, and RET/PTC1 mRNA we re analyzed in 52 peripheral-blood samples from 44 patients diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma (24 patients), adenoma (five patients), and nod ular hyperplasia (15 patients) by reverse transcription-polymerase cha in reaction (RT-PCR). Results: TG and TPO were identified in 13 patien ts (54.2%) with thyroid carcinoma, which includes five of eight patien ts with no clinical evidence of disease at the time of blood collectio n. Four of 5 patients had cervical lymph node metastases and/or extrat hyroid extension at the rime of the initial surgery. RET/PTC1 mRNA was detected in the peripheral blood of only one patient with papillary t hyroid carcinoma, This sample was also positive for TG and TPO. TG and TPO were detected in two patients (10%) with benign thyroid nodules, All positive samples from patients with benign thyroid lesions were co llected before surgery, whereas all samples collected after surgery we re negative, RET/PTC1 mRNA was not detected in any of the patients wit h benign thyroid nodules, RT-PCR positivity for TG and TPO mRNA was hi gher in patients with carcinoma than in patients with benign lesions ( P = .002). Conclusion: TG, TPO, and RET/PTC1 mRNA are detectable in th e peripheral blood of patients with thyroid disease, which correlates with a diagnosis of carcinoma. (C) 1998 by American Society of Clinica l Oncology.