TY - JOUR
T1 - SARS-CoV-2 detection in primary thyroid sarcoma
T2 - coincidence or interaction?
AU - Tanda, M. L.
AU - Ippolito, S.
AU - Gallo, D.
AU - Baj, A.
AU - Novazzi, F.
AU - Genoni, A.
AU - Annoni, M.
AU - Mancini, N.
AU - Clementi, N.
AU - Finzi, G.
AU - Piantanida, E.
AU - Premoli, P.
AU - Lai, A.
AU - Dalla Gasperina, D.
AU - Maggi, F.
AU - Uccella, S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/5
Y1 - 2022/5
N2 - Introduction: Thyroid dysfunctions associated with SARS-CoV-2 are emerging in scientific literature. During the second COVID-19 epidemic spread, we evaluated a patient with the suspect of subacute thyroiditis. Methods and results: Specimen from fine-needle aspiration of a hypoechoic undefined area was analyzed for cytology and for SARS-CoV-2 detection. SARS-CoV-2 was retrieved by real-time polymerase chain reaction on the cytologic sample, which was then cultured on Vero E6 cells and demonstrated to be cytopathic. Whole-genome sequence was deposited. Histological exam diagnosed a rare case of primary thyroid sarcoma with diffuse and strong expression of mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) oncoprotein. Ultrastructural examination confirmed, in several neoplastic cells, the presence of viral particles in cytoplasmic vacuoles. Conclusions: In our hypothesis, SARS-CoV-2 and sarcoma coexistence could represent a synergistic interplay, ultimately favoring both viral persistence and tumor proliferation: the overexpression of MDM2 in tumor cells might have generated a favorable immunological niche for SARS-CoV-2 localization and, in turn, SARS-CoV-2 could have favored tumor growth by inducing MDM2-mediated p53 downregulation. Functional studies are needed to confirm this suggestive pathway.
AB - Introduction: Thyroid dysfunctions associated with SARS-CoV-2 are emerging in scientific literature. During the second COVID-19 epidemic spread, we evaluated a patient with the suspect of subacute thyroiditis. Methods and results: Specimen from fine-needle aspiration of a hypoechoic undefined area was analyzed for cytology and for SARS-CoV-2 detection. SARS-CoV-2 was retrieved by real-time polymerase chain reaction on the cytologic sample, which was then cultured on Vero E6 cells and demonstrated to be cytopathic. Whole-genome sequence was deposited. Histological exam diagnosed a rare case of primary thyroid sarcoma with diffuse and strong expression of mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) oncoprotein. Ultrastructural examination confirmed, in several neoplastic cells, the presence of viral particles in cytoplasmic vacuoles. Conclusions: In our hypothesis, SARS-CoV-2 and sarcoma coexistence could represent a synergistic interplay, ultimately favoring both viral persistence and tumor proliferation: the overexpression of MDM2 in tumor cells might have generated a favorable immunological niche for SARS-CoV-2 localization and, in turn, SARS-CoV-2 could have favored tumor growth by inducing MDM2-mediated p53 downregulation. Functional studies are needed to confirm this suggestive pathway.
KW - MDM2
KW - Sarcoma
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Subacute thyroiditis
KW - Thyroid
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U2 - 10.1007/s40618-021-01722-1
DO - 10.1007/s40618-021-01722-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 34984625
AN - SCOPUS:85122259455
SN - 0391-4097
VL - 45
SP - 1059
EP - 1063
JO - Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
JF - Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
IS - 5
ER -