Differentiating drugs may be able to re-sensitize thyroid carcinomas to radioiodine therapy. Substituted thiazolidinediones (TZDs) belong to the group of oral anti-diabetic drugs that also possess anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects and, potentially, differentiating effects on several cancer cell lines. Some of the effects are mediated via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ). We investigated the effect of troglitazone, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone on differentiation in normal porcine thyrocytes and in the follicular carcinoma cell lines FTC 133 and FTC 238. Differentiation was investigated by measuring ¹²⁵ I uptake and the expression of sodium-iodide symporter and thyroglobulin proteins. The TZDs were tested in the presence of retinol and retinoic acid. Additionally, proliferation was evaluated by [ ³ H]thymidine uptake and cell number and apoptosis by annexin V-labeling. Controls included tocopherol and unsubstituted thiazolidinedione and co-incubation of the TZDs with the PPAR-γ antagonist GW9662. PPAR-γ and retinol X receptor (RXR)-α were investigated by immunocytochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR. Cells derived from the metastasis showed greater responses than cells derived from the primary tumor. Troglitazone showed greater effects than the other TZDs. Troglitazone significantly increased ¹²⁵ I uptake and apoptosis and decreased [ ³ H]thymidine uptake and cell number. The amount of the sodium iodide-symporter in the membrane fraction was significantly increased, while that of thyroglobulin was not influenced by the treatment. Inclusion of antagonist did not abolish these effects. No synergistic effect with any retinoid was detected. All transformed cells expressed PPAR-γ and RXR-α but TZDs did not change their expression.

Troglitazone appears to be suited for the re-differentiation treatment of dedifferentiated thyroid carcinoma because its action is twofold. On the one hand it increases differentiation and on the other hand it inhibits proliferation.