With years of experience and expertise, Creative Biolabs is respected as a center of excellence in antibody and immunoassay development. We offer customized antibody and immunoassay development services targeting a large spectrum of biomarkers of multiple diseases. Here, we specifically introduce our services to support the design and development of your in vitro diagnostic (IVD) antibodies and assays for follicular adenoma biomarkers.
Fig.1 Images of a representative case of follicular adenoma.1
Follicular adenoma is a benign encapsulated tumor of the thyroid gland. It is a firm or rubbery, homogeneous, round, or oval tumor that is surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule. Most patients with a follicular adenoma are clinically and biochemically euthyroid, where the thyroid adenoma is silent. However, about 1% of follicular adenomas are functional tumors, producing excessive thyroid hormone and resulting in symptomatic hyperthyroidism. In this case, these functioning follicular adenomas avidly concentrate radioiodine, leading to the suppressive iodine uptake in the rest of the thyroid gland.
The diagnostic evaluation of a patient who presents with a thyroid nodule consists of a routine fine-needle aspiration biopsy, an ultrasound examination of the neck, and a screening serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level. The fine-needle aspiration biopsy is widely used in the diagnostic of various cancer and inflammatory conditions, where a thin, hollow needle is used for sampling, followed by examinations under a microscope. Most thyroid tumors can be readily diagnosed using the above histopathologic criteria, allowing the pathologist to differentiate benign from malignant lesions and guarantee an accurate classification. However, in most cases, the pathologist is confronted with thyroid lesions in which the distinction between benign and malignant can be quite subtle. For the accurate diagnosis of these challenging tumors, some ancillary techniques such as an ultrasound examination of the neck, a screening serum TSH level, immunohistochemistry, and molecular profiling are applied.
An ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland is recommended in all patients with a thyroid nodule to help characterize the nodule as well as to examine the rest of the thyroid gland for other nodules. Although this technique alone cannot distinguish a follicular adenoma from a carcinoma, sonographic features such as hypoechogenicity, punctuate microcalcifications, indistinct or irregular margins are signs of a higher risk of malignancy. Moreover, all patients with nodular thyroid disease should have a serum TSH level measured to evaluate the functional status of the thyroid gland. Usually, a low serum TSH level suggests a suspicious “toxic adenoma”.
The advent of immunohistochemistry and molecular testing has greatly facilitated the differential diagnosis of thyroid tumors and brought improvement of diagnostic accuracy when combined with standard morphologic criteria. Many molecular markers (e.g. galectin-3, CK19, and HBME-1) have been discovered and they help to optimize the management of patients with thyroid nodules as well as reduce unnecessary surgical resection of benign nodules. Furthermore, molecular profiling of tumors has become a promising technologic approach that may unravel important novel biomarkers to be incorporated in the management of thyroid tumors.
Creative Biolabs has extensive experience in IVD antibody and immunodiagnostic test development. We work with our clients to develop antibodies and assays that exactly meet their specific research and manufacturing requirements. Creative Biolabs offers comprehensive contract development services including:
Our services can be tailored targeting different biomarkers of follicular adenoma, including but not limited to:
Please feel free to contact us for more information and discuss your project needs.
Reference
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