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Randomized Trial Comparing Performance of Molecular Markers for Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules

NCT ID: NCT02681328

Last Updated: 2025-12-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

328 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-05-01

Study Completion Date

2027-12-01

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of Afirma GSC and ThyroSeq v.3 in indeterminate thyroid nodules to determine which test can allow more patients to avoid unnecessary surgery and preserve quality of life. In the initial phase of this study, the performance of Afirma GEC and ThyroSeq v.2 were compared.

Detailed Description

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1. All patients undergoing thyroid FNA within the UCLA Health System will be randomized at the time of FNA to a single molecular test (GSC or ThyroSeq v.3). In the previous phase of the study, patients were randomized to the previous versions of a single molecular test (GEC or ThyroSeq v.2).
2. During the FNA, a sample will be collected for the molecular test.
3. If the cytology results are indeterminate (Bethesda categories 3 or 4), the molecular test will be reflexively sent off.
4. We will help patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules to establish care with an endocrinologist, if they do not already have one. The physicians will make treatment recommendations using best practices and incorporating the results of the molecular test. We anticipate that most patients with a positive molecular test will undergo surgery, while the majority with a negative test will be surveiled.
5. Patients who undergo surgery will have histopathologic evaluation of the thyroid, which will determine whether the index thyroid nodule was benign or malignant.
6. Patients who do not undergo surgery will have a followup ultrasound at 6 and 12 months, or sooner at the discretion of the treating physician.
7. We will assess thyroid-specific quality of life at baseline (following initial diagnosis of an indeterminate thyroid nodule) and during followup (at 6 and 12 months) using the short version of Thyroid-Related Patient-Reported Outcome.

Conditions

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Thyroid

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Afirma GEC

single molecular test GEC of collected tissue

Afirma GEC

Intervention Type OTHER

Afirma GEC molecular test on collected thyroid tissue

ThyroSeq v.2

single molecular test ThyroSeq v.2 of collected tissue

ThyroSeq v.2

Intervention Type OTHER

ThyroSeq v.2 molecular test on collected thyroid tissue

Afirma GSC

single molecular test GSC of collected tissue

Afirma GSC

Intervention Type OTHER

Afirma GSC molecular test on collected thyroid tissue

ThyroSeq v.3

single molecular test ThyroSeq v.3 of collected tissue

ThyroSeq v.3

Intervention Type OTHER

ThyroSeq v.3 molecular test on collected thyroid tissue

Interventions

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Afirma GEC

Afirma GEC molecular test on collected thyroid tissue

Intervention Type OTHER

ThyroSeq v.2

ThyroSeq v.2 molecular test on collected thyroid tissue

Intervention Type OTHER

Afirma GSC

Afirma GSC molecular test on collected thyroid tissue

Intervention Type OTHER

ThyroSeq v.3

ThyroSeq v.3 molecular test on collected thyroid tissue

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients with a thyroid nodule who have a thyroid biopsy performed at UCLA health will be eligible for the study and consented if they agree to participate.
* Patients who have an indeterminate FNA biopsy result (Bethesda category 3 or 4) will be enrolled in the study if they agree to participate.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients who do not have an indeterminate biopsy result (either patients who have a benign, insufficient, or malignant result).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

100 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Masha Livhits, MC

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Visiting Assistant Professor

Locations

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Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Cibas ES, Ali SZ; NCI Thyroid FNA State of the Science Conference. The Bethesda System For Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. Am J Clin Pathol. 2009 Nov;132(5):658-65. doi: 10.1309/AJCPPHLWMI3JV4LA.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19846805 (View on PubMed)

Lee L, How J, Tabah RJ, Mitmaker EJ. Cost-effectiveness of molecular testing for thyroid nodules with atypia of undetermined significance cytology. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Aug;99(8):2674-82. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-1219. Epub 2014 Mar 31.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24684467 (View on PubMed)

Alexander EK, Kennedy GC, Baloch ZW, Cibas ES, Chudova D, Diggans J, Friedman L, Kloos RT, LiVolsi VA, Mandel SJ, Raab SS, Rosai J, Steward DL, Walsh PS, Wilde JI, Zeiger MA, Lanman RB, Haugen BR. Preoperative diagnosis of benign thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology. N Engl J Med. 2012 Aug 23;367(8):705-15. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1203208. Epub 2012 Jun 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22731672 (View on PubMed)

Nikiforov YE, Carty SE, Chiosea SI, Coyne C, Duvvuri U, Ferris RL, Gooding WE, LeBeau SO, Ohori NP, Seethala RR, Tublin ME, Yip L, Nikiforova MN. Impact of the Multi-Gene ThyroSeq Next-Generation Sequencing Assay on Cancer Diagnosis in Thyroid Nodules with Atypia of Undetermined Significance/Follicular Lesion of Undetermined Significance Cytology. Thyroid. 2015 Nov;25(11):1217-23. doi: 10.1089/thy.2015.0305. Epub 2015 Sep 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26356635 (View on PubMed)

Wu JX, Lam R, Levin M, Rao J, Sullivan PS, Yeh MW. Effect of malignancy rates on cost-effectiveness of routine gene expression classifier testing for indeterminate thyroid nodules. Surgery. 2016 Jan;159(1):118-26. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2015.05.035. Epub 2015 Oct 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26435428 (View on PubMed)

Wu JX, Young S, Hung ML, Li N, Yang SE, Cheung DS, Yeh MW, Livhits MJ. Clinical Factors Influencing the Performance of Gene Expression Classifier Testing in Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules. Thyroid. 2016 Jul;26(7):916-22. doi: 10.1089/thy.2015.0505. Epub 2016 Jun 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27161519 (View on PubMed)

Hu TX, Nguyen DT, Patel M, Beckett K, Douek M, Masamed R, Rhyu J, Kim J, Tseng CH, Yeh MW, Livhits MJ. The Effect Modification of Ultrasound Risk Classification on Molecular Testing in Predicting the Risk of Malignancy in Cytologically Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules. Thyroid. 2022 Aug;32(8):905-916. doi: 10.1089/thy.2021.0659. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35611970 (View on PubMed)

Zhu CY, Donangelo I, Gupta D, Nguyen DT, Ochoa JE, Yeh MW, Livhits MJ. Outcomes of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules Managed Nonoperatively after Molecular Testing. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Mar 8;106(3):e1240-e1247. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa887.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33394039 (View on PubMed)

Livhits MJ, Zhu CY, Kuo EJ, Nguyen DT, Kim J, Tseng CH, Leung AM, Rao J, Levin M, Douek ML, Beckett KR, Cheung DS, Gofnung YA, Smooke-Praw S, Yeh MW. Effectiveness of Molecular Testing Techniques for Diagnosis of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2021 Jan 1;7(1):70-77. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.5935.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33300952 (View on PubMed)

Livhits MJ, Kuo EJ, Leung AM, Rao J, Levin M, Douek ML, Beckett KR, Zanocco KA, Cheung DS, Gofnung YA, Smooke-Praw S, Yeh MW. Gene Expression Classifier vs Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing in the Management of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Jun 1;103(6):2261-2268. doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-02754.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 29590358 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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16-000055

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id