Endocrine Abstracts

Purpose: Thyroid cancer is the most common cancer of endocrine system. Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycoprotein that has a role in osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Osteopontin has other roles in cell migration and cell survival and its related to tumorigenesis and cell invasion. Osteopontin levels have been determined higher in some malignancies. The purpose of this study is to determine plasma osteopontin levels in patients with new onset diagnosed thyroid cancer and to compare them with plasma osteopontin levels in healthy people.

Method: In our study we planned to compare two groups. The first group was composed of patients with newly diagnosed differentiated thyroid cancer (40 patients) and the second group was composed of healthy individuals (40 patients). Blood samples (5 ml) for osteopontin were collected for both groups, centrifuged and frozen at −80 °C. Osteopontin levels were studied with ELISA method at once.

Findings: OPN levels were determined 10.21±3.67 ng/ml in patients and 6.14±2.29 ng/ml in control group. OPN was determined higher in patients and this difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). There was no significant correlation between OPN level and prognosis and aggressiveness.

Results: OPN levels were higher in patients with thyroid cancer. This case was associated with pathophysiological role of OPN in tumorigenesis. OPN levels were not significant in predicting prognosis and aggressiveness. Further studies are needed to be understood the role and importance of OPN.