Multistep carcinogenesis in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report

We previously established an anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell line (KOA2) that had double mutations: an N-ras mutation and a p53 gene mutation. To clarify multistep carcinogenesis, we analysed surgical material from the patient from whom KOA2 was derived for abnormalities in the N-ras and p53 genes. The resected material had two histologically different lesions: a follicular neoplasm and an anaplastic carcinoma. The N-ras mutation was observed in both lesions, but the p53 gene mutation only in the anaplastic lesion. These facts indicate that an N-ras mutation may induce follicular neoplasm and a subsequent p53 mutation may have caused the follicular neoplasm to transform to anaplastic carcinoma in this patient. This report suggests direct evidence for multistep carcinogenesis in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.