Development and validation of a collagen signature to predict central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Current clinicopathological risk factors lack the precision necessary for accurate prediction of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Structural remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly collagen organization, may play a pivotal role in metastatic dissemination.

Objective

The objective of this study was to develop a collagen signature within the TME to predict CLNM in PTC and validate that the new model incorporating it into the assessment alongside clinicopathological risk factors would enhance the predictive accuracy.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we included 350 patients with classic PTC, all of whom underwent thyroidectomy with prophylactic central lymph node dissection. The case

SUBMITTER: Chen W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12698418 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature