This article is part of the supplement: New aspects of thyroid hormone synthesis and action
Review
Pathogenic mechanisms of deregulated microRNA expression in thyroid carcinomas of follicular origin
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* Corresponding author: Stefan Hüttelmaier stefan.huettelmaier@medizin.uni-halle.de
Institute of Molecular Medicine, Section for Molecular Cell Biology, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, ZAMED Heinrich-Damerow-Str.1, 06120 Halle, Germany
Thyroid Research 2011, 4(Suppl 1):S1 doi:10.1186/1756-6614-4-S1-S1
Published: 3 August 2011Abstract
Thyroid cancer is one of the most common malignancies of the endocrine system with increasing incidence. The vast majority of thyroid carcinomas derive from thyroid hormone producing follicular cells. Carcinomas of follicular origin are classified as follicular (FTCs), papillary (PTCs), partially differentiated (PDTCs) or anaplastic (ATCs) thyroid carcinomas. While FTCs and PTCs can be managed effectively, ATCs are considered one of the most lethal human cancers. Despite the identification of various genetic alterations, pathogenic mechanisms promoting the progression of thyroid carcinomas are still largely elusive. Over the recent years, aberrant microRNA expression was revealed in all as yet analyzed human cancers, including thyroid carcinomas. In view of the rapidly evolving perception that deregulated microRNA expression serves a pivotal role in tumor progression, microRNAs provide powerful tools for the diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas as well as the identification of potential therapeutic targets. Here, we summarize recent findings on microRNA signatures in thyroid carcinomas of follicular origin and discuss how deregulated microRNA expression could promote cancer progression.