Molecular Genetic Aspects of Thyroid Cancer
Issue: 1/2017
Author:Miteva, Maria J, Nonchev, Boyan Iv., Orbetzova, Maria M.
Clinic of Endocrinology and metabolic diseases; “Sv. Georgy” University Hospital, Medical University, Plovdiv
Abstract:
Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the endocrine system. The most frequent type of thyroid malignancy is papillary carcinoma. These tumors frequently have genetic alterations leading to the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Most common mutations in papillary carcinomas are point mutations of the BRAF and RAS genes and RET/PTC rearrangement. These genetic alterations are found in >70% of papillary carcinomas and they rarely overlap in the same tumor. Most frequent alterations in follicular carcinomas, the second most common type of thyroid malignancy, include RAS mutations and PAX8-PPARγ rearrangement. RET proto-oncogene point mutations are crucial for the development of medullary thyroid carcinomas. Many of these mutations, particularly those leading to the activation of the MAPK pathway, are being actively explored as therapeutic targets for thyroid cancer.
Key words: bone metabolism, osteoblast, osteocyte, sclerostin, Wnt signal pathway
