Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Thyroid cancer is the most common type of endocrine cancer and its incidence and mortality are increasing. However, few studies on the molecular factors related to its poor prognosis have been performed. The aim of our study was to identify a poor prognostic factor for thyroid cancer to reduce its overtreatment, recurrence, and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a retrospective study of 55 patients who were diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and operated in Korea from September 2013 to November 2015. RESULTS: Mts1 is a member of the S100 protein family and is involved in tumor progression and metastasis. Mts1 was highly expressed in patients with thyroid cancer and high Mts1 levels were related to poor prognoses such as lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: Mts1 is associated with aggressive pathological features in thyroid cancer, and may be a poor prognostic factor for thyroid cancer.