Comparative assessment of serum adipokine and trace element alterations in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate serum leptin, adiponectin, and selected trace elements in newly diagnosed patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) before and after treatment and to assess their diagnostic potential as biomarkers.

Methods

This prospective case–control study included 50 newly diagnosed patients with PTC and 50 healthy controls. Serum leptin, adiponectin, and trace element levels were measured pre- and post-treatment in patients and compared to controls.

Results

Before treatment, patients with PTC had significantly higher leptin and lower adiponectin levels than post-treatment patients and healthy controls (both p < 0.0001). Zinc, selenium, and magnesium levels were significantly decreased, whereas manganese, copper, and iodine levels were significantly increased (all p < 0.001). Leptin was negatively correlated with Zn, Se, Mg, and Ca (p < 0.0001), whereas adiponectin showed positive correlations. The leptin/adiponectin ratio demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.951.

Conclusion

Patients with PTC exhibit significant alterations in serum adipokines and trace elements that improve following treatment. Leptin, adiponectin, and particularly the leptin/adiponectin ratio may serve as promising non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis and postoperative monitoring of PTC.