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Thyroid hormone deiodinases and cancer
Sabina Casula1, Antonio C Bianco
1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Miami, FL, USA.
Frontiers in Endocrinology
|June 8, 2012
Summary
Deiodinases, crucial for thyroid hormone regulation, show altered expression in various cancers. Their dysregulation may offer new cancer markers and therapeutic targets for antineoplastic approaches.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
Background:
- Deiodinases are selenoenzymes vital for thyroid hormone homeostasis.
- They exist in three types: D1 and D2 activate thyroid hormones, while D3 inactivates them.
- Altered deiodinase expression is observed in numerous cancer types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of deiodinase dysregulation in cancer.
- To explore deiodinases as potential cancer biomarkers.
- To assess their potential in developing novel antineoplastic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on deiodinase expression in various cancers.
- Analysis of deiodinase activity and expression levels in different tumor types.
- Examination of the impact of deiodinase modulation on cancer cell proliferation.
Main Results:
- Deiodinase expression varies significantly across different cancers (e.g., increased D1 in breast cancer, decreased in renal clear cell carcinoma).
- Specific deiodinases (D2, D3) show altered expression linked to cell proliferation in rhabdomyosarcoma and basal cell carcinoma.
- Knockdown of D3 reduced basal cell carcinoma growth in mice.
Conclusions:
- Deiodinase dysregulation is implicated in cancer development and progression.
- These enzymes represent promising targets for novel cancer therapies.
- Further research into deiodinase function in tumors could lead to new antineoplastic approaches.
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