Immune Profiling of Thyroid Carcinomas Suggests the Existence of Two Major Phenotypes: an ATC-like and a PDTC-like

• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2018-01167
• Publication Date: 2019-03-18T10:30:29Z
• Authors: Riccardo Giannini; Sonia Moretti; Clara Ugolini; Elisabetta Macerola; Elisa Menicali; Nicole Nucci; Silvia Morelli; Renato Colella; Martina Mandarano; Angelo Sidoni; Matteo Panfili; Fulvio Basolo; Efisio Puxeddu
• Keywords: TIGIT

The understanding of the mechanisms underlying thyroid cancer immune escape can lead to identification new molecular targets and/or efficacy biomarkers. For this purpose, we performed expression profiling in cancers obtain a comprehensive view on activated during progression. study was conducted retrospectively 25 papillary carcinomas (PTCs), 14 poorly differentiated (PDTC), 13 anaplastic (ATCs), and 7 normal (NT) tissue samples. Gene obtained RNA samples using Nanostring platform its nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel. comparison ATC, PTC, PDTC vs NT showed high number regulated genes In detail, immune-related gene sets were significantly upregulated (ATC > PTC PDTC). Most ATC approximately half microenvironment infiltrated by macrophages T-cells with CD8+ effector phenotype, part which appeared be functionally exhausted. Conversely, most PDTC, as samples, remaining displayed poor or absent infiltration cells. Interestingly, an upregulation inhibitory checkpoint mediators, including PDL1, PDL2, PD1, LAG-3, TIM-3, PVR, TIGIT, could detected PTC. These data indicated existence two major phenotypes carcinoma: ATC-like one, hot altered–immunosuppressed tumors PDTC-like altered–excluded cold tumors. Confirmation findings locally advanced metastatic tissues is expected have important immunotherapeutic implications.