Korean J Med.  2009 Aug;77(Suppl 1):S109-S115.

Analysis of the mitochondrial D-loop sequence in a patient with thyroid Hurthle cell carcinoma and sacral bone metastasis

• Bai YS
• Kim SY
• Lee JH
• Lee YH
• Kim JM
• Jo YS
• Ro HK

Abstract

Hurthle cell carcinoma, an oncocytic variant of follicular thyroid carcinoma, has a higher malignancy potential than well differentiated thyroid carcinomas. It has a tendency to metastasize easily to the lungs and bones, although isolated sacral bone metastasis has been rarely reported. Hurthle cell carcinoma has been characterized by increased mitotic activity and abundant abnormal mitochondria, which have profound mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations. In general, a well-known hypothesis is that genomic alteration, especially microsatellite instability of the mtDNA D-loop, might result in whole mtDNA instability as seen in Hurthle cell carcinoma. Recently, we experienced a case of Hurthle cell carcinoma that presented with extensive sacral bone metastasis. To investigate the relationship between mtDNA genomic instability and metastatic potential in this case, we performed direct sequencing of the mtDNA D-loop in samples extracted from normal thyroid tissue, thyroid carcinoma tissue, and sacral bone metastasis tissue. Here, we describe the results of mtDNA D-loop sequencing and present a literature review.

Keyword

DNA; Mitochondrial; Metastasis; Sacrum; Oxyphil cells; Thyroid neoplasm

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular
DNA
DNA, Mitochondrial
Genomic Instability
Humans
Lung
Microsatellite Instability
Mitochondria
Neoplasm Metastasis
Oxyphil Cells
Sacrum
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
DNA
DNA, Mitochondrial