title: Sodium iodide symporter (NIS) in extrathyroidal malignancies: focus on breast and urological cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expression and function of sodium iodide symporter (NIS) is requisite for efficient iodide transport in thyrocytes, and its presence in cancer cells allows the use of radioiodine as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in thyroid neoplasia. Discovery of NIS expression in extrathyroidal tissues, including transformed cells, has opened a novel field of research regarding NIS-expressing extrathyroidal neoplasia. Indeed, expression of NIS may be used as a biomarker for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic purposes. Moreover, stimulation of endogenous NIS expression may permit the radioiodine treatment of extrathyroidal lesions by concentrating this radioisotope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This review describes recent findings in NIS research in extrathyroidal malignancies, focusing on breast and urological cancer, emphasizing the most relevant developments that may have clinical impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the recent progress in the study of NIS regulation as molecular basis for new therapeutic approaches in extrathyroidal cancers, particular attention is given to studies regarding the relationship between NIS and clinical-pathological aspects of the tumors and the regulation of NIS expression in the experimental models.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bulotta
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puppin
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Largo del Pozzo, 71, Modena 41100, Italy. territoangelo@tiscali.it.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Territo
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navarra
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Damante
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filetti
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D027981:Symporters / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000099209:Sodium-Iodide Symporters
chemical_list: D027981:Symporters; D000099209:Sodium-Iodide Symporters