Age-specific tumor-associated macrophage biomarkers underlie metastasis and immune dysregulation in thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer (THCA) shows rising incidence and aggressiveness in young-onset cases. Through integrated single-cell, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses, we identified age-specific tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) genes, including OLR1 and SIGLEC1, linked to metastasis and immune dysfunction. These TAM biomarkers were validated at the protein level, highlighting their prognostic and therapeutic potential. Our findings reveal key TAM-driven mechanisms in young-onset THCA progression, warranting further clinical investigation.