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Thyroid receptor: roles in cancer

Ana Aranda1, Olaia Martínez-Iglesias, Lidia Ruiz-Llorente

  • 1Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain. aaranda@iib.uam.es

Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|September 1, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are crucial for development and metabolism. Recent findings reveal TRs act as tumor suppressors, and their loss promotes cancer growth and metastasis, indicating TRs as a novel cancer therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, regulate critical physiological processes.
  • TRs are increasingly recognized for their role in inhibiting cellular transformation and acting as tumor suppressors.
  • Dysregulation and silencing of TRs are frequently observed in human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent studies on the mechanisms underlying TR loss of function in cancer.
  • To highlight the role of TRs in tumor development and metastatic growth.
  • To underscore the potential of TRs as a novel therapeutic target in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on thyroid hormone receptors and cancer.
  • Analysis of mechanisms involving TR expression and function in cellular transformation.
  • Examination of TRs' role in tumor progression in experimental models.

Main Results:

  • Loss of TR expression or function provides a selective advantage for cellular transformation.
  • TRs play a significant role in tumor development and metastatic spread.
  • Aberrant TR action is a common event in human cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Thyroid hormone receptors are critical tumor suppressors.
  • Mechanisms of TR loss contribute to cancer progression.
  • TRs represent a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

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