Illustration of Notch 1 receptor in thyroid cancer

Notch 1 Receptor: Is It the Key to Predicting Thyroid Cancer Aggressiveness?

Author's portrait.
Lena Voss in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores how the Notch 1 receptor could be a game-changer in assessing tumor aggressiveness in papillary thyroid carcinoma, potentially leading to more personalized treatment strategies."


Receptors and ligands within the Notch family are pivotal in regulating cellular growth and differentiation across various normal, reactive, and neoplastic tissues. These intricate roles have spurred significant interest in understanding how the Notch signaling pathway influences different types of malignant tumors. In essence, Notch can play a dual role in cancer, acting either as an oncogene that promotes cancer or as a tumor suppressor that inhibits it.

The implications of Notch signaling are broad. Activating this pathway can block apoptosis (programmed cell death) or induce chemoresistance in cancer cells found in ovarian, colorectal, or pancreatic settings, suggesting its oncogenic capabilities. Conversely, the same activation process has been found to impede the growth of cancers such as prostate cancer, small-cell lung cancer, basal cell cancer, and pancreatic carcinoid, underlining its potential as a tumor suppressor.

Much of the current research focuses on the Notch signaling pathway—or Notch receptors—in the context of thyroid cancer, particularly in poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) or anaplastic thyroid cancer. The precise role of Notch receptors in DTC remains somewhat unclear. The impact of Notch signaling in thyroid cancers can vary significantly depending on the cancer's histological type. This study aims to determine if there is a link between Notch 1 receptor expression and the aggressiveness of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to analyze tissue samples.

Decoding Tumor Aggressiveness: What the Study Reveals About Notch 1

Illustration of Notch 1 receptor in thyroid cancer

This study retrospectively examined patients who underwent thyroidectomies between 2013 and 2014. The research team obtained data from Xin Hua Hospital’s electronic medical records, focusing solely on patients diagnosed with PTC. The final analysis included 68 PTC patients. Researchers used immunohistochemistry to evaluate formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, aiming to understand Notch 1 receptor expression. They also gathered clinical data including patient sex, age, tumor size, presence of node or distant metastasis, capsule invasion, and tumor multicentricity.

The statistical analysis involved Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test to identify significant differences in categorical variables. All tests were two-sided, and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The detailed characteristics of the patient cohort revealed important insights:

  • The study included 19 male and 49 female PTC patients.
  • The average age of the patients was 44.8 years, with a range from 18 to 78 years.
  • Notch 1 receptor expression was detected in 15 out of 68 PTC samples, accounting for 22% of the cases.
The data indicated that Notch 1 receptor expression significantly correlated with several markers of tumor aggressiveness, including larger tumor size (P=0.021), distant metastasis (P=0.008), capsule invasion (P=0.001), tumor multicentricity (P=0.018), and age (P=0.033). However, no significant correlation was found with node metastasis (P=0.096) or sex (P=0.901).

Implications and Future Directions

In conclusion, the expression of the Notch 1 receptor is associated with tumor aggressiveness in PTC. Therefore, Notch 1 receptor may serve as a molecular marker of tumor invasiveness. PTC patients exhibiting positive expression of Notch 1 receptor may benefit from radioiodine remnant ablation, presenting a new avenue for personalized treatment strategies. Further research should explore these findings to refine diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, ultimately improving patient outcomes in thyroid cancer.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is the role of the Notch 1 receptor in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC)?

The study indicates that the expression of the Notch 1 receptor correlates with tumor aggressiveness in PTC. Specifically, the presence of Notch 1 receptor expression was linked to larger tumor size, distant metastasis, capsule invasion, tumor multicentricity, and patient age. This suggests that the Notch 1 receptor could potentially serve as a molecular marker to assess how aggressively the tumor is likely to behave.

2

How does the expression of the Notch 1 receptor impact the prognosis of PTC patients?

The study suggests that PTC patients with positive expression of the Notch 1 receptor may have more aggressive tumors, as indicated by several markers. Recognizing this, they may benefit from treatments like radioiodine remnant ablation, offering a pathway toward personalized treatment approaches. The detection of Notch 1 receptor expression can help in estimating the aggressiveness level, guiding treatment decisions.

3

What methods were used to analyze the relationship between the Notch 1 receptor and PTC aggressiveness?

Researchers utilized immunohistochemistry (IHC) to examine formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 68 PTC patients who underwent thyroidectomies. They evaluated the expression of the Notch 1 receptor. Clinical data, including patient sex, age, tumor size, presence of metastasis, capsule invasion, and tumor multicentricity, were also gathered. Statistical analysis involved Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test to identify significant differences in categorical variables, using a P-value of less than 0.05 to determine statistical significance.

4

What are the broader implications of the Notch signaling pathway in cancer?

The Notch signaling pathway, involving Notch receptors and their ligands, is critical in regulating cell growth and differentiation, impacting various tissues. It can act as either an oncogene, promoting cancer growth, or as a tumor suppressor, inhibiting it. In some cancers, activating the Notch pathway can prevent apoptosis and induce chemoresistance. In other cancers, activation has been found to impede tumor growth. This study focuses on the implications within the context of thyroid cancer, particularly in PTC, to understand the role of Notch 1 receptor.

5

In the context of the study, what patient characteristics were considered, and how did they relate to Notch 1 receptor expression in PTC?

The study analyzed a cohort of 68 PTC patients, with 19 males and 49 females, with an average age of 44.8 years. The data revealed that the Notch 1 receptor expression was detected in 22% of the samples. Specifically, expression correlated with larger tumor size, distant metastasis, capsule invasion, tumor multicentricity, and the age of the patient. There was no significant correlation found with node metastasis or patient sex. This comprehensive assessment helps determine the prognostic significance of Notch 1 receptor expression in PTC.

Newsletter Subscribe

Subscribe to get the latest articles and insights directly in your inbox.