Chromosomal Aberrations by Comparative Genomic Hybridization in Hürthle Cell Thyroid Carcinomas Are Associated with Tumor Recurrence

Hürthle cell thyroid neoplasms are classified as variants of follicular neoplasms, but they have distinct clinicopathological features. Chromosomal aberrations by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) are common in Hürthle cell neoplasms. However, there is currently only limited information concerning the relationship between the chromosomal aberrations by CGH and tumor behavior. We, therefore, investigated chromosomal aberrations in primary Hürthle cell neoplasms (13 carcinomas and 15 adenomas) using CGH and correlated the aberrations identified with tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor differentiation, capsular invasion, and tumor recurrence. Chromosomal aberrations were found in 62% (8 of 13) of carcinomas and 60% (9 of 15) of adenomas. Overall, common chromosomal gains were found on 5p (29%), 5q (36%), 7 (29%), 12p (14%), 12q (21%), 17p (29%), 17q (32%), 19p (32%), 19q (25%), 20p (21%), 20q (29%), and 22q (18%). Common chromosomal losses were found on 2q (18%) and 9q (18%). Thirty-eight percent (5 of 13) of carcinomas were TNM stage III, 31% (4 of 13) were moderately to poorly differentiated, and 46% (6 of 13) were intermediately to widely invasive. Recurrence occurred in 38% (5 of 13). Carcinomas that subsequently recurred had a greater number of chromosomal gains (9.0 vs. 1.3; <0.005) and had more frequent chromosomal gains on 12q, 19q, and 20p (<0.001), 5p, 7, 19p, and 20q (<0.005), and 12p (<0.01) than those that did not recur. Five of the eight (63%) patients with aberrations developed recurrence, whereas none of the five patients without aberrations developed recurrence. In conclusion, chromosomal gains by CGH on 5p, 7, 12p, 12q, 19p, 19q, 20p, and 20q in Hürthle cell carcinomas are associated with tumor recurrence. Such chromosomal aberrations may be predictive for recurrent disease in patients with Hürthle cell thyroid carcinoma.