Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The growing body of evidence suggests a complicated association between papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Although HT is a major risk factor for PTC development, it is also associated with improved patient outcomes. However, the molecular mechanisms between these two diseases remain unclear. This narrative review summarizes clinical evidence that connects HT with PTC and examines how these two conditions interact. It explores the involvement of CD4 + T-cell subsets, regulatory T cells, CD8 + T cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and key immunological molecules in remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) during HT. We also discuss the contributions of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, thyroid-stimulating hormone and autoantibodies, non-coding RNA regulatory networks, and the gut microbiota to the relationship between the two diseases. Further research is needed to fill the gaps in our understanding of HT and PTC linkages, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for developing personalized therapies that target the TIME.
Source: Frontiers in Endocrinology
Authors: Xin Lin, Zhi Chen, Dandan Song, Jie Shen
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7204986938