Leptin Associated with Poor Thyroid Cancer Prognosis

Leptin, a molecule linked with obesity, predicted poor prognosis from thyroid cancer in Saudi Arabia.

Scientists measured the level of leptin and its receptor in 536 human thyroid cancer samples. They found that over expression of the leptin receptor was significantly associated with poor disease survival in 80% of the cases. Increased leptin receptor expression was linked with older age, larger tumor size, advanced stage, and metastasis. The scientists also demonstrated in laboratory in vitro experiments that leptin stimulated growth of thyroid cancer cells and prevented their death.

"Leptin receptor expression may be a useful molecular marker in predicting the level of aggression of Middle Eastern thyroid cancer that can help guide treatment options and follow-up care," said lead scientist Khawla S. Al-Kuraya, M.D., director of the research center at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Leptin receptor status can be easily assessed with a fine needle biopsy, according to Dr. Al-Kuraya.

Whereas thyroid cancer is the eighth most common cancer among American women, it is the second most common in Saudi Arabian women. This high prevalence is seen in all Gulf Council countries, according to Dr. Al-Kuraya.

The data were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research Meeting, held in Boston (USA) from Oct. 8-11, 2009.

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King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center