title: [Molecular medicine in thyroid surgery].
abstract: Cancer originates from a single cell which, through the acquisition of mutations in genes for key growth and survival factors, undergoes clonal expansion. Study of the genome allowed the detection of genes whose mutation is involved in tumour formation. In detail, in most thyroid neoplasms we are now able to identify the genes which cause cancer initiation. Moreover, correlations between mutations and clinico-pathological features of the tumours have been revealed. Thus, the genetic study of tumours is not anymore only a scientific curiosity, but a useful tool for the formulation of the more efficacious therapeutic and follow-up strategies. In this review we will summarize the more recent molecular medicine acquisitions in the thyroid cancer field and will describe their present and eventually future impact on the activity of the endocrine surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Centro di Riferimento Regionale per l'Endocrinochirurgia, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavano
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calzolari
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Misso
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucchini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monacelli
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Ajello
authors.forename: Efisio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puxeddu
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Avenia
mesh_terms: D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018813:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; C099282:RET protein, human; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf