title: Runx2 isoform I controls a panel of proinvasive genes driving aggressiveness of papillary thyroid carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ability of tumor cells to invade adjacent tissues is governed by a complicated network of molecular signals, most of which have not yet been identified. In a recent work, we reported that the transcriptional regulator Id1 contributes to thyroid cancer progression by powering the invasion capacity of tumor cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The intent of this work was to further investigate the biology of invasive thyroid tumors, through the analysis of the molecular interactions existing between Id1 and some of its target genes and through the characterization of the function of these factors in the progression of thyroid tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We showed that Id1 controls the expression of the Runx2 isoform I and that this transcription factor plays a central role in mediating the Id1 proinvasive function in thyroid tumor cells. We demonstrated that Runx2 regulates proliferation, migration, and invasiveness by activating a panel of genes involved in matrix degradation and cellular invasion, which we previously identified as Id1 target genes in thyroid tumor cells. Finally, we show that Runx2 is strongly expressed in metastatic human thyroid tumors both at the primary site and in metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, our experiments demonstrate the existence of a previously unknown molecular axis that controls thyroid tumor invasiveness by altering the ability of tumor cells to interact with the surrounding microenvironment. These factors could prove to be valuable markers that permit early diagnosis of aggressive thyroid tumors.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, viale Risorgimento 80, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Sancisi
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Borettini
authors: Sally
authors: S
authors: Maramotti
authors: Moira
authors: M
authors: Ragazzi
authors: Ione
authors: I
authors: Tamagnini
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Nicoli
authors: Simonetta
authors: S
authors: Piana
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Ciarrocchi
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051798:Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; C497453:ID1 protein, human; D051798:Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1; C493709:RUNX2 protein, human