WO2012115308A1 - Method and apparatus for diagnosing thyroid cancer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing thyroid cancer and to an apparatus for diagnosing thyroid cancer using the diagnosing method. The method comprises the steps of: compiling data on the concentration of three or more hormones selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 2-metoxyestrone (2-MeO-E1), 2-metoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-metoxyestradiol-3-methyl ether (2-MeO-E2-3-methyl ether), measured from body samples of a normal group and from a thyroid cancer patient group; and comparing the obtained statistical data with sample values for diagnosis to determine whether thyroid cancer is present and if so, the progression thereof.

Description

Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis Method and Diagnosis Device

The present invention relates to a method and a diagnostic apparatus for thyroid cancer, and more particularly, to a thyroid cancer diagnosis method and diagnostic apparatus that can significantly diagnose thyroid cancer based on the statistics of hormone concentrations obtained from a body sample.

Thyroid cancer is more common among men than women, and the cancer incidence rate of the National Cancer Information Center is 7.4% of all cancers in 2002. According to the recent report to the Korean Society of Thyroid Diseases, Korea ranked fourth in cancer incidence in 2006 and women in first place. Thyroid cancer has a higher incidence than other cancers, but if the diagnosis is made early and surgery can be done early, survival is higher.

The causes of thyroid cancer are known as radiation exposure, sex hormones, etc., but the exact cause is still unknown (Tronko ND, et al. Thyroid gland and radiation (Ukrainian-American Thyroid Project). International Congress Series 2003; 1258: Robbins J, Schneider AB.Radioiodine-induced thyroid cancer: Studies in the aftermath of the accident at Chernobyl. Trends Endocrinol Metab 1998; 9: 87-94.). It is very important to identify risk factors for thyroid cancer and use them to establish a prevention system for thyroid cancer. Moreover, since thyroid cancer is detected early and has a very high survival rate, it is also important to establish a method for early and accurate diagnosis. Currently screening for thyroid disease uses ultrasound, and no special preventive method is known.

Several studies have reported that thyroid hormones are involved in the proliferation of breast cancer or thyroid cancer. Tumor proliferative effect of 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1) and tumor suppression of 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) in hormone-related tumors such as breast cancer proliferative effect) (Bradlow H, et al. Role of the estrogen receptor in the action of organochlorine pesticides on estrogen metabolism in human breast cancer cell lines.Sci Total Environ 1997; 208: 9-14). In addition, the ratio of 2-OHE1 and 16α-OHE1 has been studied as a biomarker of breast cancer (Meilhan E, et al. Do urinary estrogen metabolites predict breast cancer? Follow up of the Guernsey III cohort.Br Cancer J 1998 78 (9): 1250-5; Telang N, et al. Estradiol metabolism: an endocrine biomarker for modulation of human mammary carcinogenesis. Environ Health Persp 1997; 105: 559-64). The relationship between the ratio of 2-OHE1 and 16α-OHE1 and thyroid disease has also been studied (Chan EK, et al. A hormonal association between estrogen metabolism and proliferative thyroid disease.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006 Jun; 134 (6) : 893-900). Studies have shown that 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2) exhibits anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in thyroid cancer cells (Roswall P, et al. 2-methoxyestradiol induces apoptosis in cultured) human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells.Thyroid. 2006 Feb; 16 (2): 143-50). In general, 16α-OHE1 is recognized as a risk factor because it is involved in cancer proliferation. However, some studies have shown that the ratio of 2-OHE1 and 16α-OHE1 cannot be a biomarker (McDougal A, Safe S Induction of 16α / 2-Hydroxyestrone Metabolite Ratios in MCF-7 Cells by Pesticides, Carcinogens, and Antiestrogens Does Not Predict Mammary Carcinogens Environ Health Persp 1998; 106: 203-206).

In other words, although the relationship between some hormone concentrations or ratios and the progression of thyroid cancer has been suggested, the results were inconsistent, and no systematic studies have been established to diagnose thyroid cancer.

Accordingly, the present inventors have reliably studied the thyroid cancer disease and its progression method, and as a result, we established a hormone group that significantly increases the mean value in the body samples of thyroid cancer patients compared to normal people, The present invention has been completed by developing a method for reliably diagnosing thyroid cancer using the hormone group.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a thyroid cancer diagnosis method for reliably diagnosing thyroid cancer using concentrations of hormone groups measured in body samples.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thyroid cancer diagnosis apparatus capable of reliably diagnosing thyroid cancer using concentrations of hormone groups measured in body samples.

In order to achieve the above object, an aspect of the present invention

2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 2-methoxyestrone (2-MeO) measured from body samples of the populations of the normal and thyroid cancer patient groups, respectively. At least three selected from the group consisting of -E1), 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether (2-MeO-E2-3-methylether) Provided is a thyroid cancer diagnosis method for determining whether or not thyroid cancer progresses by comparing statistical values obtained by using hormone concentrations as data.

In addition, another aspect of the present invention

2-hydroxyestron (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2) measured from body samples from populations of normal and thyroid cancer patient groups, respectively, to provide the information needed to diagnose thyroid cancer , 2-methoxy estrone (2-MeO-E1), 2-methoxy estradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxy estradiol-3-methyl ether (2-MeO-E2-3-methyl A method for comparing and analyzing the statistical values obtained by using three or more hormone concentrations selected from the group consisting of ether) as a sample value of a diagnosis target.

Another aspect of the invention

Hormone concentration input unit for inputting the hormone concentration measured from the body sample of the diagnosis object;

2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 2-methoxyestrone (2-MeO) measured from body samples of the populations of the normal and thyroid cancer patient groups, respectively. At least three selected from the group consisting of -E1), 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether (2-MeO-E2-3-methylether) Statistical values obtained by using hormone concentrations as data are stored, and the sample values of the diagnosis subjects are calculated based on the statistical values using the three or more hormone concentrations input through the input unit, and the sample values of the diagnosis subjects. A diagnostic program module for determining whether or not the progression of thyroid cancer by comparing the stored statistics with And

Provided is a thyroid cancer diagnosis device which is a computer system including an output unit for outputting the diagnosis result.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

All technical terms used in the present invention, unless defined otherwise, are used in the meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art in the related field of the present invention. Also described herein are preferred methods or samples, but similar or equivalent ones are within the scope of the present invention. The contents of all publications described herein by reference are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present inventors studied a method for reliably diagnosing thyroid cancer disease, and as a result, for the first time, we established a hormone group in which the mean value of the thyroid cancer patient group was significantly increased compared to the normal group. We have established a methodology to determine the extent and progression of thyroid cancer. Specifically, 18 hormone levels on androgen and estrogen metabolic pathways were measured from thyroid cancer patients and normal body samples of the population, and then the average values were calculated. The mean values were significantly higher in the thyroid cancer patients group than in the normal group. 5 increasing hormonal groups, 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 2-methoxyestrone (2-MeO-E1), 2-meth Toxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether (2-MeO-E2-3-methylether) were found. Pearson correlation coefficients of the thyroid cancer patient group and the normal group were calculated for each hormone of the hormone group, and the Pearson correlation coefficients of the normal group and the thyroid cancer patient group were compared. Pearson's correlation coefficients in the patient group showed significant differences, indicating that the thyroid cancer diagnosis using the hormonal changes was reliable. However, since the five hormone groups have very high variability in changes in the concentration of thyroid cancer patients with respect to the normal group, there may be an increase in false positive results when only comparing the absolute value of the hormone concentration. When comparing only two or less hormones among the hormone groups, it was difficult to reliably diagnose thyroid cancer. Accordingly, the statistics obtained by using three or more hormone concentrations among the five hormone groups as data are compared with the corresponding values of the three or more hormone concentrations (ie, sample values for diagnosis) of the body sample to be diagnosed, or The method of determining the progress was devised.

Thus, one aspect of the present invention

2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 2-methoxyestrone (2-MeO) measured from body samples of the populations of the normal and thyroid cancer patient groups, respectively. At least three selected from the group consisting of -E1), 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether (2-MeO-E2-3-methylether) Provided is a thyroid cancer diagnosis method for determining whether or not thyroid cancer progresses by comparing statistical values obtained by using hormone concentrations as data.

In addition, another aspect of the present invention

2-hydroxyestron (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2) measured from body samples from populations of normal and thyroid cancer patient groups, respectively, to provide the information needed to diagnose thyroid cancer , 2-methoxy estrone (2-MeO-E1), 2-methoxy estradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxy estradiol-3-methyl ether (2-MeO-E2-3-methyl A method for comparing and analyzing the statistical values obtained by using three or more hormone concentrations selected from the group consisting of ether) as a sample value of a diagnosis target.

The "statistics obtained by using three or more hormone concentrations as data" means statistical values obtained by any statistical method from three or more hormone concentrations measured from body samples of the populations of the normal group and the thyroid cancer patient group, respectively. It is a statistical value that can determine the progress or progression of thyroid cancer compared to the sample value of the diagnosis target. The "sample value of the diagnosis subject" refers to a value corresponding to the statistical value of the three or more hormone concentrations measured from a body sample of the subject to be diagnosed.

The "statistic obtained by using three or more hormone concentrations as data" is not particularly limited, but is preferably a regression equation obtained using multiple regression analysis. Specifically, in all possible cases where data of three or more hormone concentrations measured from the body samples of the respective populations of the normal group and the thyroid cancer patient group are used, and the order of disease progression is arbitrarily determined for some or all of the normal group and the thyroid cancer patient group. A regression equation obtained by multiple regression analysis on numbers can be used as a thyroid disease index, and the regression equation can be used as a statistical value obtained by using the three or more hormone concentrations as data. The regression equation has a coefficient of determination (r ² ) of 0.6 or more as a result of multiple regression analysis, it is preferred that the highest regression equation. According to the thyroid disease index (ie, the sample value of the diagnosis target) obtained by substituting the three or more hormone concentrations of the body sample to be diagnosed into the expression of the thyroid disease index, it is possible to diagnose whether or not the progression of thyroid cancer. More specifically, when determining the regression equation by the multiple regression analysis, the thyroid disease index value in the case of thyroid cancer, the thyroid disease index value in the case of normal, the transition stage from normal to thyroid cancer based on the population data The thyroid disease index value (ie, a sample value for diagnosis) obtained by setting the thyroid disease index value as a reference value and substituting the three or more hormone concentrations of the body sample to be diagnosed into the regression formula belongs to any region of the reference value. It can determine whether thyroid cancer is present and how far it progresses.

In the multiple regression analysis, the normal group and the thyroid cancer patient group cannot use the binary data to obtain the regression equation, and all or part of the thyroid cancer disease group and the normal group are arranged at random in all possible cases of disease progression for each individual, and in all cases. The regression equation can be obtained by performing multiple regression analysis on.

The body sample can be any body sample capable of measuring the three or more hormone concentrations, for example urine, blood, or saliva can be used. Preferably, urine or serum in blood may be used.

The hormone concentration measurement method may be performed by any method known in the art, for example, GC-MS-SIM (Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry-Selected Ion-Monitorng), HPLC (High-performance liquid) chromatography, and EIA (competitive solid-phase enzyme immunoassay).

In the thyroid cancer diagnosis method, the three or more hormone concentrations are more preferably four or more hormone concentrations. The use of four or more hormone concentrations as data for obtaining the statistics or the thyroid disease index can further increase the reliability of thyroid cancer diagnosis. The four or more hormones may include, for example, 2-hydroxyestrone, 2-hydroxyestradiol, 2-methoxyestradiol, and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a regression equation obtained by multiple regression analysis using at least four hormone concentrations measured from body samples of a population of each of the normal and thyroid cancer patient groups is as follows:

Thyroid Disease Index (TDI) = 0.0153x2-MeO-E2-3-methylether + 0.0874x2-MeO-E2 / 2-OH-E2-2.2571x2-MeO-E2-3-methylether / 2-OH-E1 + 0.5649

In the above thyroid disease index equation, the disease index is between 0 and 0.8, and the thyroid cancer patient group is 1.0 or more. 0.8 to 1.0 is a borderline thyroid cancer risk group.

The thyroid cancer diagnosis method may be implemented as a thyroid cancer diagnosis apparatus, and may provide a thyroid cancer diagnosis apparatus capable of knowing whether or not the thyroid cancer progresses by inputting a hormone concentration measured in a body sample to be diagnosed.

Therefore, another aspect of the present invention

Hormone concentration input unit for inputting the hormone concentration measured from the body sample of the diagnosis object;

2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 2-methoxyestrone (2-MeO) measured from body samples of the populations of the normal and thyroid cancer patient groups, respectively. At least three selected from the group consisting of -E1), 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether (2-MeO-E2-3-methylether) Statistical values obtained by using hormone concentrations as data are stored, and the sample values of the diagnosis subjects are calculated based on the statistical values using the three or more hormone concentrations input through the input unit, and the sample values of the diagnosis subjects. A diagnostic program module for determining whether or not the progression of thyroid cancer by comparing the stored statistics with And

Provided is a thyroid cancer diagnosis device which is a computer system including an output unit for outputting the diagnosis result.

The diagnostic program module stores a regression equation obtained by multiple regression analysis as a formula of thyroid disease index using at least three hormone concentrations measured from body samples of the populations of the normal group and the thyroid cancer patient group as data. It may include a program for determining whether or not the progression of thyroid cancer according to the thyroid disease index obtained by substituting the three or more hormone concentrations of the body sample of the diagnosis subject input through the formula into the formula of the stored thyroid disease index. The program may be designed in such a manner as to perform a thyroid cancer diagnostic method according to an aspect of the present invention described above, and may be designed in such a manner as to perform all possible embodiments of the thyroid cancer diagnostic method according to an aspect of the present invention. Can be. It is apparent that the program that the diagnostic program module should have to perform this design can be designed by those skilled in the computer program field using the knowledge known in the present specification and the computer program field.

The thyroid cancer diagnosis device may automatically activate the diagnostic program module by outputting three or more hormone concentrations measured from a body sample of a diagnosis target to a hormone concentration input unit so that a thyroid cancer diagnosis result may be automatically output through an output unit. Alternatively, the operation of the diagnostic program module and the output of the diagnosis result may be performed by a separate manual operation.

The input of the three or more hormone concentrations measured from the body sample to be diagnosed may be inputted separately after measuring by a measuring device, but the hormone concentration for the thyroid cancer diagnostic device to measure the hormone concentration from the body sample. You may further comprise a measuring instrument. That is, the diagnostic apparatus further includes a hormone concentration measuring device for measuring hormone concentration from a body sample of the diagnosis target, and the hormone concentration measuring device is connected to the hormone concentration input unit so that the hormone concentration measured by the hormone concentration measuring device is automatically input. You can do that. The hormone concentration meter may be any meter capable of measuring the five hormone concentrations, for example, a GC-MS-SIM device (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Selected Ion-Monitorng), HPLC (High-performance liquid) chromatography, an EIA (competitive solid-phase enzyme immunoassay).

The thyroid cancer diagnosis method and apparatus according to the present invention can diagnose the thyroid cancer and the progress of the thyroid cancer by measuring the hormone concentration of three or more of the five hormones in the body sample to be diagnosed. In addition, since thyroid cancer can be diagnosed by measuring hematological changes, the thyroid cancer can be diagnosed earlier. In addition, by calculating the probability of developing thyroid cancer, it is expected to be effective in preventing thyroid cancer and reduce mortality from thyroid cancer. Therefore, it can be said that the method and diagnostic apparatus for thyroid cancer according to the present invention is very innovative due to the characteristics of thyroid cancer in which early diagnosis is important.

1 is a thyroid gland which measures the hormone concentration in a population of thyroid cancer patients and normal groups according to an embodiment of the present invention, and obtains the highest coefficient of determination by multiple regression analysis using the patient and normal groups as binary data. The disease index is a graph showing the hormone concentration data and the thyroid disease index according to the disease progression sequence in which the regression equation is obtained.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples. However, these examples are only for the understanding of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by them in any sense.

Example 1

(1) data measurement and t-analysis

The urine of 23 patients with thyroid cancer and 20 normal people was collected from a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry-selected ion-monitoring (GC-MS-SIM) system (Hewlett-Packard GC-MS: 5890A GC model, 5970A mass-selective detector chemstation was used to obtain profile data for 18 metabolite hormones on the androgen and estrogen metabolic pathways.

Information on thyroid cancer patients is summarized in Table 1 below. Of the thyroid cancer patients, 18 were female, 5 were male, and their age ranged from 26 to 60 years. There are 11 thyroid cancers, 6 thyroid tumors, 3 thyroid masses, 1 thyroid papillary cancer, and 1 goiter. In the following table, pre / post means pre / post surgery.

TABLE 1

Information on 23 Patients with Thyroid Cancer

T-test analysis was performed on the measured hormone profile data to find risk factors for thyroid disease. The t-test results are summarized in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2

T-test results for 18 metabolite hormones on androgen and estrogen metabolic pathways

As a result of the analysis of Table 2, 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 2-methoxyestrone (2-MeO-E1), 2-methoxy The estradiol (2-MeO-E2) and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether (2-MeO-E2-3-methylether) hormones showed a very high t value, compared to the normal group. Hormone concentrations were significantly increased in the patient group. From this, it was confirmed that the mean value of the hormone value in the normal group and thyroid cancer patient group was significantly different.

(2) Calculation of Pearson's Correlation Coefficient

Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for the five hormone groups in the thyroid cancer patient group and the normal group, respectively, and are summarized in Table 3 below.

As shown in Table 3, the difference in the Pearson's correlation coefficient between the thyroid cancer patient group and the normal group shows that the hormone profile changes as the disease progresses.

(3) Multiple regression analysis

Multiple linear regression (MLR) was performed to obtain the thyroid disease index for diagnosing thyroid cancer using the five hormone groups. Since there is no data on the progression of thyroid cancer disease, the thyroid cancer patient group and the normal group are binary data. In order to use the multiple regression analysis, binary data is required to be converted. Since the order of disease progression of the data is not known, the normal group has a random order list so that the patient group has a value between 0.2 and 0.7. Created. A total of 29,030,400 sequences were obtained by randomly assigning the disease progression of six samples from eight normal groups of thyroid cancer patients. All these sequences were subjected to multiple regression analysis. The following formula was obtained as the best regression equation with the best result, namely the coefficient of determination r ² , and the regression equation was named TDI.

Thyroid Disease Index (TDI) = 0.0153 x 2-MeO-E2-3-methylether + 0.0874 x 2-MeO-E2 / 2-OH-E2-2.2571 x 2-MeO-E2-3-methylether / 2-OH -E1 + 0.5649

In FIG. 1, the thyroid disease index and the hormone concentration data according to the disease progression sequence obtained are shown in a graph.

Looking at the change in the individual hormone concentration shown in Figure 1, the hormone concentration was shown to increase with the progression of thyroid cancer, but the variability was too severe. Therefore, it is difficult to judge the progression of thyroid disease with two or less hormonal data.

In the graph shown in FIG. 1, the thyroid disease index of 0 to 0.8 was found to be a normal group, and the index 1.0 or more was shown to be a thyroid cancer patient group. The first four patients at the borderline below the index 1.0 were thyroid mass (0.8055), goiter (0.8806), thyroid mass (preoperative thyroid cancer, 0.8951), and thyroid mass (preoperative thyroid cancer). , 0.9112). According to these results, it was confirmed that the optimal regression equation of the acquired thyroid disease index increases in accordance with the progression of thyroid cancer, so that the thyroid disease can be classified according to the regression equation. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether thyroid cancer and the progression of thyroid cancer based on the range of the thyroid disease index obtained according to the obtained thyroid disease index, it is understood that the thyroid disease index (TDI) is a good tool for diagnosis of thyroid cancer Can be.

Claims (11)

2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 2-methoxyestrone (2-MeO) measured from body samples of the populations of the normal and thyroid cancer patient groups, respectively. At least three selected from the group consisting of -E1), 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether (2-MeO-E2-3-methylether) A method for diagnosing thyroid cancer, in which thyroid cancer is diagnosed or progressed by comparing statistical values obtained by using hormone concentrations as data. 2-hydroxyestron (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2) measured from body samples from populations of normal and thyroid cancer patient groups, respectively, to provide the information needed to diagnose thyroid cancer , 2-methoxy estrone (2-MeO-E1), 2-methoxy estradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxy estradiol-3-methyl ether (2-MeO-E2-3-methyl A method of comparing and analyzing the statistical values obtained by using three or more hormone concentrations selected from the group consisting of ether) as a sample value of the diagnosis target. The method of claim 1, wherein the regression equation obtained by multiple regression analysis using the three or more hormone concentrations measured from the body samples of the population of each of the normal group and the thyroid cancer patient group is used as the expression of the thyroid disease index. Thyroid cancer diagnosis method for determining whether or not the progression of thyroid cancer according to the thyroid disease index obtained by substituting the three or more hormone concentrations of the body sample. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the regression equation is a regression equation having the highest coefficient of determination (r ² ) in a multiple regression analysis. The method of claim 1, wherein the body sample is urine, blood, or saliva. The diagnostic method according to claim 1, wherein four or more hormone concentrations are used as data. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the four or more hormones comprise 2-hydroxyestrone, 2-hydroxyestradiol, 2-methoxyestradiol, and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether. Diagnostic method. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the regression formula is: Thyroid Disease Index (TDI) = 0.0153x2-MeO-E2-3-methylether + 0.0874x2-MeO-E2 / 2-OH-E2-2.2571x2-MeO-E2-3-methylether / 2-OH-E1 + 0.5649 Hormone concentration input unit for inputting the hormone concentration measured from the body sample of the diagnosis object; 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 2-methoxyestrone (2-MeO) measured from body samples of the populations of the normal and thyroid cancer patient groups, respectively. At least three selected from the group consisting of -E1), 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2), and 2-methoxyestradiol-3-methylether (2-MeO-E2-3-methylether) Statistical values obtained by using hormone concentrations as data are stored, and the sample values of the diagnosis subjects are calculated based on the corresponding statistical values using the three or more hormone concentrations input through the input unit, and the sample values of the diagnosis subjects. A diagnostic program module for determining whether or not the progression of thyroid cancer by comparing the stored statistics with And A thyroid cancer diagnosis device comprising a computer output unit for outputting the diagnosis result. The method according to claim 9, wherein the diagnostic program module uses the three or more hormone concentrations measured from body samples of the populations of the normal group and the thyroid cancer patient group as data, and uses the regression equation obtained by the multiple regression analysis as an expression of the thyroid disease index. And thyroid cancer index or degree of progression according to the thyroid disease index obtained by substituting the three or more hormone concentrations of the body sample of the diagnosis subject input through the input unit into the equation of the stored thyroid disease index. An apparatus for diagnosing thyroid cancer, comprising performing the method of claim 1. The method of claim 9, further comprising a measuring device for measuring the hormone concentration from the body sample of the diagnosis target, the measuring device is connected to the hormone concentration input unit characterized in that the measured hormone concentration is automatically input Diagnostic device.

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