title: Animal models of medullary thyroid cancer: state of the art and view to the future.
abstract: Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a neuroendocrine tumour originating from parafollicular C cells accounting for 5-10% of thyroid cancers. Increased understanding of disease-specific molecular targets of therapy has led to the regulatory approval of two drugs (vandetanib and cabozantinib) for the treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma. These drugs increase progression-free survival; however, they are often poorly tolerated and most treatment responses are transient. Animal models are indispensable tools for investigating the pathogenesis, mechanisms for tumour invasion and metastasis and new therapeutic approaches for cancer. Unfortunately, only few models are available for medullary thyroid carcinoma. This review provides an overview of the state of the art of animal models in medullary thyroid carcinoma and highlights future developments in this field, with the aim of addressing salient features and clinical relevance.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (DISCCO)University of Milan, Milan, Italy giovanni.vitale@unimi.it.|Laboratory of Endocrine and Metabolic ResearchIstituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Vitale
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (DISCCO)University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Germano
authors: G
authors: Gaudenzi
authors: Department of Experimental OncologyLaboratory of Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, 'Fondazione Pascale' - IRCCS, Naples, Italy.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Circelli
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Internal MedicineEndocrine Tumors Unit, San Raffaele Hospital Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors: Marco F
authors: MF
authors: Manzoni
authors: Department of PhysicsPolitecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Bassi
authors: Department of BiosciencesUniversity of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Niccolò
authors: N
authors: Fioritti
authors: Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery UnitIstituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori 'Fondazione G. Pascale' - IRCCS, Naples, Italy.
authors: Antongiulio
authors: A
authors: Faggiano
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine and SurgerySection of Endocrinology, 'Federico II' University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Colao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; D002642:Chick Embryo; D049033:Chorioallantoic Membrane; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004330:Drosophila; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms; D015027:Zebrafish
keywords: Drosophila melanogaster
  ; animal models; chick chorioallantoic membrane; medullary thyroid cancer; mice; zebrafish