Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
05:39
Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Published on: February 3, 2023
Molecular rearrangements in papillary thyroid carcinomas
Horst Zitzelsberger1, Verena Bauer, Gerry Thomas
1Department of Radiation Cytogenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany. zitzelsberger@helmholtz-muenchen.de
Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry
|December 5, 2009
Summary
Papillary thyroid cancer often involves chromosomal rearrangements, particularly involving the Ret oncogene. These genetic alterations create fusion genes that may offer future therapeutic targets for this epithelial malignancy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Papillary thyroid cancer exhibits unique chromosomal rearrangements among epithelial cancers.
- The Ret oncogene is frequently rearranged, fusing with constitutively expressed thyroid follicular cell genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of chromosomal rearrangements in papillary thyroid cancer.
- To explore the potential of tumor-specific fusion genes as therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of chromosomal rearrangements in papillary thyroid cancer.
- Identification of fusion genes resulting from oncogene rearrangement.
Main Results:
- Commonly observed Ret oncogene rearrangements in papillary thyroid cancer.
- Fusion genes transcribed from rearranged oncogenes are present in tumors.
Conclusions:
- Chromosomal rearrangements, especially Ret oncogene fusions, are characteristic of papillary thyroid cancer.
- Tumor-specific fusion genes represent potential therapeutic targets, requiring further evaluation for clinical application.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Tumor Progression
Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
02:37Restarting Stalled Replication Forks
DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...
01:20Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Low blood levels of the thyroid hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — signal the hypothalamus to release the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then reaches the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) into the bloodstream.
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The iodine is then...
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The iodine is then...
02:53Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation
Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
01:24Cellular Adaptation IV: Dysplasia and Metaplasia
DysplasiaDysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells, characterized by pleomorphism, nuclear abnormalities, and increased mitotic activity. It commonly affects epithelial tissues, including the cervix, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory mucosa, and endometrium. Although it may occur alongside hyperplasia, dysplasia is not a true adaptive response but a preneoplastic change with potential to progress to cancer.When confined above the basement...
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...