Measurement of Thyroid Hormones Biochemical Markers (TSH, T3 & T4) and Calcitonin as Biochemical Markers of Thyroid Cancer in Kirkuk city
1 Department of chemistry, College of Education for Pure Science, university of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq.
2 Department of chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Al-Iraqia University, Baghdad, Iraq.
Research Article
International Journal of Frontiers in Biology and Pharmacy Research, 2026, 09(01), 001-009.
Article DOI: 10.53294/ijfbpr.2026.9.1.0012
Publication history:
Received on 30 November 2025; revised on 23 January 2026; accepted on 26 January 2026
Abstract:
Thyroid cancer, especially medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has overt effects on thyroid function and hormone regulation by C-cells secreting calcitonin which is a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for diagnosis and disease monitoring. This study was aimed at assessing serum levels of thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4) and calcitonin in patients with thyroid cancer and comparison to a control group, as well as variations among different types of thyroid cancer. Serum samples from 40 patients and 40 healthy samples controls were collected and the hormone level is measured by the standardized immunoassays. Results showed that patients with thyroid cancer and mostly MTC had significantly higher levels of calcitonin (MTC: 68.4 ± 24.7 pg/mL vs. controls: 6.2 ± 2.8 pg/mL, P < 0.001), whereas TSH was elevated (3.82 ± 1.41 µIU/mL) and T3 (0.91 ± 0.22 ng/mL) and T4 (7.6 ± 1.8 µg/dL) levels were significantly reduced, Calcitonin levels were significantly found to be higher in MTC than papillary, follicular and anaplastic thyroid cancers, indicating its specificity as a biomarker. These results highlight how important calcitonin can be in the maintenance and diagnosis of MTC at the onset of the disease and goes to show how thyroid cancer may severely interfere with the usual balance of thyroid hormones. Incorporating the measurement of calcitonin into the standard evaluation of thyroid hormone builds on the diagnostic accuracy, clinical examination and patient management, which will give a holistic solution to better results in patients with thyroid cancer.
Keywords:
Thyroid cancer; Medullary thyroid carcinoma; Calcitonin; TSH; T3; T4; Biomarkers; Thyroid function
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