Publications by authors named "Sun-Wook Cho"

Objectives: Research on detected distant metastasis or anaplastic transformation in recurrent/persistent differentiated thyroid cancer is limited. We analyzed the clinical factors associated with detected distant metastasis or anaplastic transformation following reoperation for differentiated thyroid cancer.

Methods: This retrospective review included 336 patients who underwent reoperation for differentiated thyroid cancer with detection of distant metastasis or anaplastic transformation following reoperation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

While radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) has been an effective treatment for thyroid cancer, its link to clonal hematopoiesis (CH) has been yet underexplored. In this study, error-corrected sequencing (median depth: 1926×) of 93 CH-related genes was performed from the blood samples of 358 thyroid cancer patients, including 110 controls (no RAIT) and 248 RAIT recipients. RAIT recipients were stratified into low- and high-dose groups using a 7.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement is an essential aspect of monitoring for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. This study compared the performances of ultrasensitive Tg (ultraTg) and highly sensitive Tg (hsTg) assays in predicting stimulated Tg levels without thyroid-stimulating hormone stimulation.

Methods: Overall, 268 DTC patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy and either radioiodine treatment or I-123 diagnostic scanning were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Importance: Graves ophthalmopathy significantly diminishes patients' quality of life due to its immune-mediated inflammatory effects on the orbital tissues. Selenium, with its antioxidative properties, has shown potential for improving Graves ophthalmopathy progression and quality of life (QOL); however, its effectiveness in selenium-sufficient regions is not well established.

Objective: To determine whether selenium supplementation improves QOL in patients with mild to moderate Graves ophthalmopathy in selenium-sufficient regions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Active surveillance (AS) has emerged as a viable management strategy for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), following pioneering trials at Kuma Hospital and the Cancer Institute Hospital in Japan. Numerous prospective cohort studies have since validated AS as a management option for low-risk PTMC, leading to its inclusion in thyroid cancer guidelines across various countries. From 2016 to 2020, the Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study of Active Surveillance on Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma (MAeSTro) enrolled 1,177 patients, providing comprehensive data on PTMC progression, sonographic predictors of progression, quality of life, surgical outcomes, and cost-effectiveness when comparing AS to immediate surgery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This population-based cohort study aimed to evaluate the risk of osteoporosis and fractures associated with higher-potency statin use compared to lower-potency statin use in patients with stroke, using data from the Health Insurance and Review Assessment database of South Korea (2010-2019). Patients who received statin within 30 days after hospitalization for a new-onset stroke (n = 276,911) were divided into higher-potency (n = 212,215, 76.6%) or lower-potency (n = 64,696, 23.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - This study explored the possible link between COVID-19 vaccinations and thyroid issues, particularly thyroiditis, using data from over 7.5 million adults and adolescents in Korea.
  • - Results indicated a slight increase in the risk of hypothyroidism exacerbation after vaccination, but not for other thyroid conditions like hyperthyroidism or thyroiditis in both adults and adolescents.
  • - Overall, the findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccinations are generally safe for thyroid health, with the exception of a noted risk for worsening hypothyroidism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study focuses on twin pregnancies resulted from assisted reproductive technology, especially in older women, highlighting their higher risk of chemical exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can affect fetuses.
  • - Researchers analyzed PFAS levels in 78 maternal and 156 cord serum samples, finding higher PFAS concentrations in mothers, while certain chemicals were more prevalent in newborns, suggesting uneven exposure during pregnancy.
  • - Results showed that while twin pregnancies don't change PFAS exposure levels or transfer efficiency compared to singletons, maternal PFAS levels were linked to complications and varied cord levels in twins, indicating a need for more research on potential health impacts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Backgruound: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has a poorer prognosis than differentiated thyroid cancers; however, comprehensive data on the long-term outcomes of MTC remain scarce. This study investigated the extended clinical outcomes of MTC and aimed to identify prognostic factors.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with MTC between 1980 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Backgruound: We explored the utility of a small multi-gene DNA panel for assessing molecular profiles of thyroid nodules and influencing clinical decisions by comparing outcomes between tested and untested nodules.

Methods: Between April 2022 and May 2023, we prospectively performed fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with gene testing via DNA panel of 11 genes (BRAF, RAS [NRAS, HRAS, KRAS], EZH1, DICER1, EIF1AX, PTEN, TP53, PIK3CA, TERT promoter) in 278 consecutive nodules (panel group). Propensity score-matching (1:1) was performed with 475 nodules that consecutively underwent FNA without gene testing between January 2021 and December 2021 (control group).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Backgruound: Hypothyroidism, a prevalent endocrine disorder, results from insufficient thyroid hormone production or release, affecting metabolism. However, disparities in comorbidities and treatment trajectories may exist between endogenous and exogenous hypothyroidism.

Methods: Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service from 2004 to 2018.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A study involving 927 patients compared the quality of life (QoL) between those choosing AS and those undergoing lobectomy, finding the AS group had significantly better QoL during follow-up.
  • Overall, while patients who opted for AS initially reported higher QoL scores, both groups' scores became similar after one year, indicating that treatment choice may not have long-term QoL differences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - This study investigates ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a safe and effective alternative to surgery for managing low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMC) in younger patients who prefer active surveillance.
  • - Conducted from 2018 to 2021, the trial included 100 patients with a median age of 42, revealing a high technical success rate, with 95.9% of ablative procedures leading to complete tumor disappearance and a low disease progression rate of 3.1% after a median follow-up of 30 months.
  • - Quality of life (QoL) measurements showed significant improvement in psychological and social aspects without negatively impacting physical QoL, suggesting RFA could
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: This study aimed to assess selenium status in South Korean pregnant women and its impact on maternal thyroid function and pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: 'Ideal Breast Milk (IBM) Cohort Study' included 367 pregnant women out of 442 participants and categorized into three groups based on plasma selenium levels: deficient (< 70 μg/L), suboptimal (70-99 μg/L), and optimal (≥ 100 μg/L). During the second or third trimester, various blood parameters, including selenium, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T4, free T3, and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels, were measured.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Backgruound: The diagnostic accuracy of preoperative radiologic findings in predicting the tumor characteristics and clinical outcomes of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) was evaluated across all risk groups.

Methods: In total, 939 PTMC patients, comprising both low-risk and non-low-risk groups, who underwent surgery were enrolled. The preoperative tumor size and lymph node metastasis (LNM) were evaluated by ultrasonography within 6 months before surgery and compared with the postoperative pathologic findings.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Telomere length is associated with cancer risk and cancer aggressiveness. Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for thyroid cancer has raised concerns for second primary malignancy (SPM) in patients with high cumulative doses. The association between RAI dose and peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length was examined.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The role of the serine/glycine metabolic pathway (SGP) has recently been demonstrated in tumors; however, the pathological relevance of the SGP in thyroid cancer remains unexplored. Here, we perform metabolomic profiling of 17 tumor-normal pairs; bulk transcriptomics of 263 normal thyroid, 348 papillary, and 21 undifferentiated thyroid cancer samples; and single-cell transcriptomes from 15 cases, showing the impact of mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism in thyroid tumors. High expression of serine hydroxymethyltransferase-2 (SHMT2) and methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2) is associated with low thyroid differentiation scores and poor clinical features.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Unlabelled: Adipose tissue within the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in supporting breast cancer progression. In this study, we identified FAM3 metabolism-regulating signaling molecule C (FAM3C) produced by cancer-associated adipocytes (CAA) as a key regulator of tumor progression. FAM3C overexpression in cultured adipocytes significantly reduced cell death in both adipocytes and cocultured breast cancer cells while suppressing markers of fibrosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how the metabolic characteristics of thyroid cancer vary based on molecular subtypes determined by mutations, specifically BRAF-like, RAS-like, and ATC-like cancers.
  • Using multi-omics analysis, researchers found that metabolic properties differ between differentiated thyroid cancers (PTC-B and FTC-R) but are similar in dedifferentiated types (ATC-B/R).
  • The results highlight specific metabolic pathways and vulnerabilities, suggesting potential targeted therapies for advanced thyroid cancer based on these metabolic differences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Recent studies suggest that long-term antibiotic use might be a risk factor for thyroid cancer, but more research is needed to confirm this link.
  • A nationwide study analyzed data from over 9.8 million adults in South Korea, showing that those prescribed antibiotics for 365 days or more had a significantly higher risk of developing thyroid cancer compared to nonusers.
  • The findings indicate that not only long-duration antibiotic use but also the number of different antibiotic classes taken increases thyroid cancer risk, highlighting the need for further investigation into this potential connection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Adequate iodine intake is essential for growing children, and thyroid volume (Tvol) is considered as an indicator of iodine status. We investigated Tvol and goiter using ultrasonography (US) and their association with iodine status in 228 6-year-old children living in Korea.

Methods: Iodine status was assessed using urine iodine concentration (UIC) and categorized as deficient (<100 μg/L), adequate (100-299 μg/L), mild excess (300-499 μg/L), moderate excess (500-999 μg/L), and severe excess (≥1000 μg/L).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background Active surveillance (AS) is an accepted strategy for patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). While previous studies have evaluated the prognostic value of US features, results have been inconsistent. Purpose To determine if US features can help predict tumor progression in patients with low-risk PTMC undergoing AS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF