1887
Volume 2025, Issue 4
  • ISSN: 0253-8253
  • EISSN: 2227-0426

Abstract

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer worldwide. Differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid pathology is crucial for optimum management. Immunohistochemical markers (IHC) such as galectin-1 and the trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP-2) are valuable tools in this differentiation. The study aimed to evaluate the role of immunohistochemical expression of galectin-1 and TROP-2 in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid lesions.

This retrospective observational study analyzed 136 thyroid specimens, including 50 cases of follicular nodular disease (FND), 23 follicular adenomas (FA), 37 papillary carcinomas (PTCs), and 26 follicular carcinomas (FTCs) collected from Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital from October 2022 to October 2024. All cases underwent IHC staining for galectin 1 and TROP-2.

Galectin-1 IHC expression was significantly associated with tumor size of papillary carcinoma cases ( = 0.002). TROP-2 IHC expression was significantly associated with female gender ( = 0.0006) and tumor size in follicular carcinoma cases ( = 0.031). A highly significant difference in IHC expression between benign and malignant cases was observed for both markers ( = 0.001). TROP-2 expression was higher in malignant cases at 82% (papillary and follicular carcinoma) compared to galectin-1 (62%; value, 0.0097).

Both galectin-1 and TROP-2 showed higher expression in malignant thyroid cases compared to benign lesions. TROP-2 showed higher sensitivity in detecting malignant lesions, whereas galectin-1 exhibits greater specificity. Combining both markers enhances the differentiation between benign and malignant lesions, thus providing valuable diagnostic insight.

© 2025 Al-Kaabi, Al-Hindawi, Hasan, licensee HBKU Press.
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2025-12-13

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Evaluation of the diagnostic utility of galectin-1 and TROP-2 in thyroid tumors: A retrospective analysis
Qatar Medical Journal 2025, 113 (2025); https://doi.org/10.5339/qmj.2025.113
/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2025.113
/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2025.113
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): galectin 1, thyroid neoplasms and trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP-2)

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