The role of KISS1/KISS1R system in tumor growth and invasion of differentiated thyroid cancer.
Savvidis. Christos C; Papaoiconomou. Eleni E; Petraki. Constantina C; Msaouel. Pavlos P; Koutsilieris. Michael M
Key Findings
- KISS1 protein levels are higher in thyroid cancers that have spread beyond the thyroid gland.
- KISS1R receptor levels are inversely related to tumor size – lower receptor expression is seen in larger tumors.
- The authors suggest that increased KISS1 may be a defensive response by cancer cells, while reduced KISS1R may weaken the anti‑metastatic signaling.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers and self‑directed health optimizers, this research does not provide actionable guidance on using kisspeptin‑10 for longevity, metabolic health, or performance. It is primarily a cancer‑biology observation with no clear protocol, dosage, or safety implications for healthy individuals.
Summary
The study looked at how the KISS1 protein and its receptor behave in thyroid cancer. It found that higher levels of KISS1 appear when the tumor is invading nearby tissue, while lower levels of the receptor (KISS1R) are linked to bigger tumors. The authors think the cancer cells may boost KISS1 to try to stop spreading, but losing KISS1R may let the tumor grow.
Abstract
KISS1 protein and KISS1 receptor form a system that mainly promotes suppression of metastasis in various forms of cancer. We studied the relationship between KISS1/KISS1R expression and tumor progression in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Thirty-three patients diagnosed with DTC were included in the study. Immunohistochemical cytoplasmic expression was evaluated for KISS1 and cytoplasmic/membranous expression for KISS1R in thyroid cancer tissues. KISS1 expression was significantly higher in tumors with extrathyroidal invasion and advanced stage. KISS1R expression showed a statistically significant, moderate negative correlation with tumor size. Increased expression of KISS1 is possibly acquired to prevent further tumor invasiveness and formation of local or distant metastasis. It appears that malignant cells in DTC express increased levels of KISS1 as the tumor invades extrathyroidal tissues. Decreased expression of KISS1R seems to attenuate signaling of the KISS1/KISS1R system, possibly leading to tumor growth.
Study Information
pubmed
2015