title: Normal vs cancer thyroid stem cells: the road to transformation.
abstract: Recent investigations in thyroid carcinogenesis have led to the isolation and characterisation of a subpopulation of stem-like cells, responsible for tumour initiation, progression and metastasis. Nevertheless, the cellular origin of thyroid cancer stem cells (SCs) remains unknown and it is still necessary to define the process and the target population that sustain malignant transformation of tissue-resident SCs or the reprogramming of a more differentiated cell. Here, we will critically discuss new insights into thyroid SCs as a potential source of cancer formation in light of the available information on the oncogenic role of genetic modifications that occur during thyroid cancer development. Understanding the fine mechanisms that regulate tumour transformation may provide new ground for clinical intervention in terms of prevention, diagnosis and therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.|Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zane
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scavo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Todaro
authors.affiliation: Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Maria
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stassi
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*