D.R. Sanginov¹, F.I. Salimov¹, ², Sh.Z. Khabibullaev³, A.A. Ismailova³
1Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan
2Republican Oncology Research Center, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan
3Institute of Immunology and Human Genomics of Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan
Salimov F.I. — Oncologist, Department of General Oncology
59A Somoni Ave., 734026 Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan, tel.: +992-937-90-86-84, e-mail: furkat.salimov.84@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0001-8562-6461
Abstract. Thyroid cancer remains one of the most common malignant tumors of the endocrine system. However, data on its epidemiological and immunological characteristics in the Republic of Tajikistan remain limited. The high proportion of patients diagnosed at advanced stages highlights the need for an in-depth analysis of clinical and morphological features and the search for additional prognostic markers. Investigation of the cytokine profile may contribute to a more accurate assessment of immune dysregulation and optimization of management strategies for patients with thyroid cancer.
The purpose — to assess the prevalence of thyroid cancer (TC) in the Republic of Tajikistan, analyze its clinical and morphological features, and assess the cytokine status of patients with this disease.
Material and methods. The study included data on patients treated at the Republican Oncology Center of Tajikistan from 2014 to 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze incidence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes. Cytokine status was assessed in 52 patients, including determination of IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in blood serum.
Results. In Tajikistan, there has been no significant increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer over the past 10 years; however, a predominance of late stages (T3–T4) is observed. The prevalence of women with thyroid cancer was 75.5%, and a significant proportion of patients (60.9%) had advanced stages (T3–T4). Papillary and follicular carcinoma were the most common types — 63.5%. Surgical treatment, including thyroidectomy and subtotal resection, remained the primary treatment modality, while hormonal therapy and chemotherapy were used as adjuvant methods. Cytokine monitoring revealed elevated levels of IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α, which may indicate impaired immune regulation, especially in older age groups.
Conclusions. The study highlights the need for early diagnosis of thyroid cancer, effective surgical intervention, and a comprehensive treatment approach, including immunological monitoring.
Key words: thyroid cancer, immunity, cytokines, interleukins, biological markers, prognosis