Malignant Beauty

"Art" from Cancer Cells Wins Endocrine Images Art Competition

This bright pink and blue image could probably hang in a modern art museum. But this "art" was created by Mother Nature: It shows cells of an aggressive thyroid cancer subtype. They were brought to light by endocrinologist Sriram Gubbi. The Endocrine Society has now awarded him first place in the Endocrine Images Art Competition for his spectacular photograph.

This pink-blue explosion of color shows malignant cancer cells in thyroid tissue. © Sriram Gubbi/Endocrine Society

Without hormones, nothing works in our bodies: These tiny messengers control almost everything – from growth and metabolism to body temperature and mood. It is all the more problematic when the hormonal balance is disrupted or the body's own hormone producers, such as the thyroid or pancreas, suddenly no longer function as they should.

A Hostile Takeover

Something similar has happened in the above image. It shows cells of what is known as follicular thyroid carcinoma – a rare, malignant form of thyroid cancer. The cells of this cancer originated from the follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid. One such thyroid follicle can be clearly seen in the center of the image. Thyroid hormones are normally produced in this sac, but the specimen above is already lined with carcinoma cells. They appear as a granular substance with dark nuclei.

The cancer cells have also already begun to erode the gel-like contents of the follicle—recognizable by the large, bubble-like structures inside. The thyroid hormones produced are normally stored in this colloid. This scene was captured by endocrinologist Sriram Gubbi, who researches thyroid diseases at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in the USA.

Selected as the winning image

"This image highlights the hyperactive nature of thyroid cancer cells. This demonstrates the degradation of the colloid, leaving empty, circular 'jagged' areas," explains Gubbi. "The modified darkfield and filtered illumination technique makes the tissue more luminous and dynamic, creating an image that resembles an alien world, with the jagged areas appearing like mysterious 'cosmic bubbles'."

With his image, Gubbi has now won this year's Endocrine Images Art Competition, organized by the Endocrine Society. In selecting the winning image, the focus is not only on aesthetics but also on the significance of the subject for endocrine research. The Endocrine Society aims to raise awareness of the important role of endocrinology in medicine—for example, in combating diabetes, obesity, and infertility.

Source: The Endocrine Society