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Radiation exposure and thyroid cancer: a review
Maria Laura Iglesias1, Angelica Schmidt2, Abir Al Ghuzlan1
1Institut Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France.
Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism
|February 23, 2017
Summary
Radiation exposure significantly increases thyroid cancer risk, particularly in children, with risk factors including dose and age at exposure. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is common, with specific subtypes linked to latency periods and molecular alterations like RET/PTC rearrangements.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The link between radiation exposure and thyroid cancer is well-established.
- Key risk factors include radiation dose to the thyroid and age at exposure.
- Risk is elevated following doses exceeding 0.05-0.1 Gy, with higher risk in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the established risks and characteristics of radiation-induced thyroid cancer.
- To highlight the common histological and molecular features of these tumors.
- To outline current research directions in understanding radiation's genotoxic mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiological and molecular studies on radiation and thyroid cancer.
- Analysis of risk factors, latency periods, and cancer subtypes.
- Examination of molecular alterations, focusing on RET/PTC rearrangements.
Main Results:
- Thyroid cancer risk increases with radiation dose (0.05-0.1 Gy threshold) and is highest when exposure occurs in childhood.
- A latency period of 5-10 years is typical for radiation-induced thyroid cancers.
- Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the predominant type, with subtype prevalence varying by age at exposure and latency.
Conclusions:
- Radiation exposure is a significant risk factor for thyroid cancer, especially in younger individuals.
- Specific molecular alterations, such as RET/PTC rearrangements, are hallmarks of radiation-induced thyroid tumors.
- Ongoing research aims to elucidate radiation's genotoxic mechanisms and identify molecular signatures for radiation-associated thyroid cancer.
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