Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31775768›Full record

ArticleBMC endocrine disorders2019

The precursor for nerve growth factor (proNGF) is not a serum or biopsy-rinse biomarker for thyroid cancer diagnosis.

Christopher W Rowe, Sam Faulkner, Jonathan W Paul, Jorge M Tolosa, Craig Gedye, Cino Bendinelli, Katie Wynne, Shaun McGrath, John Attia, Roger Smith and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC endocrine disorders, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 41% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. ProNGF Expression and Targeting in Glioblastoma Multiforme.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023
    Article
  2. Role of NGF and its receptors in wound healing (Review).Experimental and therapeutic medicine · 2021
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Christopher W RoweSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia. Christopher.Rowe@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9652-6562
Sam FaulknerHunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
Jonathan W PaulSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Jorge M TolosaSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Craig GedyeHunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
Cino BendinelliSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Katie WynneSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Shaun McGrathSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
John AttiaSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Roger SmithSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Hubert HondermarckHunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
Hunter Medical Research Institute · AUJohn Hunter Hospital · AUCalvary Mater Newcastle Hospital · AU

Funding

Australian Government Research Training Program ScholarshipHunter Cancer Research Alliance Biomarkers and Targeted Therapies GrantHunter New England Local Health District Clinical Research Fellowship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNerves and neurotrophic growth factors are emerging promoters of cancer growth. The precursor for Nerve Growth Factor (proNGF) is overexpressed in thyroid cancer, but its potential role as a clinical biomarker has not been reported. Here we have examined the value of proNGF as a serum and biopsy-rinse biomarker for thyroid cancer diagnosis.

methodsPatients presenting for thyroid surgery or biopsy were enrolled in separate cohorts examining serum (n = 204, including 46 cases of thyroid cancer) and biopsy-rinse specimens (n = 188, including 26 cases of thyroid cancer). ProNGF levels in clinical samples were analysed by ELISA. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to compare proNGF levels with malignancy status and clinicopathological parameters.

resultsProNGF was not detected in the majority of serum samples (176/204, 86%) and the detection of proNGF was not associated with thyroid cancer diagnosis. In the few cases where proNGF was detected in the serum, thyroidectomy did not affect proNGF concentration, demonstrating that the thyroid was not the source of serum proNGF. Intriguingly, an association between hyperthyroidism and serum proNGF was observed (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.6-8.7 p = 0.02). In biopsy-rinse, proNGF was detected in 73/188 (39%) cases, with no association between proNGF and thyroid cancer. However, a significant positive association between follicular lesions and biopsy-rinse proNGF was found (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.2-8.7, p = 0.02).

conclusionsProNGF levels in serum and biopsy-rinse are not increased in thyroid cancer and therefore proNGF is not a clinical biomarker for this condition.

Indexed as

BiopsyAdultAgedBiomarkers, TumorFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNerve Growth FactorProtein PrecursorsThyroidectomyThyroid NeoplasmsBiomarkers, TumorNerve Growth Factorpro-nerve growth factor, humanProtein PrecursorsBiomarkerBiopsy-rinseproNGFSerumThyroid Cancer

Identifiers

PMID31775768
PMCPMC6882079
OpenAlexW2989742142

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.