Update on the molecular signature of differentiated thyroid cancer: clinical implications and potential opportunities

With the development and maturation of new technologies, there has been a steady incorporation of powerful new tools into the evaluation and management of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. An increasing number of reports on oncogene testing and molecular screening in fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples have been published. However, there remains a paucity of data and consensus on combining both conventional and molecular technologies to determine the diagnosis and/or prognosis of disease. All patients with differentiated thyroid cancer stand to benefit from the identification and incorporation of reliable molecular markers into clinical practice. Identification of reliable markers would allow for stratification of treatment, affording the medical and surgical teams an ability to individually tailor evaluation and treatment, applying aggressive therapy and monitoring only when clinically warranted. For the majority of patients with thyroid cancer, the incorporation of a validated, multifaceted molecular profiling system may not improve survival; however, there is great opportunity for these efforts to decrease the morbidity associated with our current approach.