Is there an accurate biomarker test for thyroid cancer recurrence on the horizon?

Patients who are diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have favorable survival rates of over 90%; however, up to 30% of them develop recurrent disease leading to considerable morbidity [1]. Multiple prognostic systems have been developed for thyroid cancer, which are effective in predicting mortality, but not as effective in predicting recurrence [2]. Currently, there is no molecular biomarker in clinical use for predicting recurrence. The established serum biomarkers calcitonin and thyroglobulin are used for recurrence surveillance for medullary and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), respectively. They do not predict recurrence. Therefore, biomarkers for the prognosis and diagnosis of recurrence are subjects of current intense investigation.

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