Molecular markers of aggressiveness of thyroid cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To review recent progress at defining molecular markers that predict the biological behavior of thyroid cancer.


RESULTS
Thyroid cancer behavior is defined by the effects of the initiating oncogene as well as secondary events in tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment that are both genetic and epigenetic. Over the past several years, there has been intense focus on identifying molecular markers to better predict the aggressiveness of thyroid cancers and also to define therapeutic targets. The results of recent articles in this area of work are summarized with a focus of differentiated follicular-cell-derived forms of thyroid cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical staging predicts tumor behavior in many cases, but does not allow true 'personalization' of initial therapy or identify potential therapeutic targets for patients with progressive disease that does not respond to standard therapies. Recent data point to several new opportunities to refine thyroid cancer treatment based on molecular information. Several highlighted articles have begun to apply this information with clinical intent.
Ringel
Matthew D
MD
Divisions of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism and Oncology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA. matthew.ringel@osumc.edu
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*
D005819:Genetic Markers