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This is Your Thyroid on Drugs: Targetable Mutations and Fusions in Thyroid Carcinoma

Ying-Hsia Chu1

  • 1Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, No. 5, Fuxing Street, Guishan District, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan.

Surgical Pathology Clinics
|February 4, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This review covers molecular drivers of thyroid cancer, focusing on actionable genetic alterations in the MAPK and PI3K pathways. Advances in treatment target identification offer new therapeutic options for unresectable thyroid carcinomas.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Thyroid carcinomas are driven by specific molecular pathways, notably the MAPK and PI3K pathways.
  • Genetic alterations, including point mutations and gene rearrangements, are key drivers in thyroid carcinogenesis.
  • Understanding these alterations is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular pathogenesis of thyroid carcinomas.
  • To emphasize therapeutically actionable genetic alterations.
  • To discuss laboratory techniques for identifying therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of molecular pathogenesis in thyroid cancer.
  • Analysis of genetic alterations in MAPK and PI3K pathways.
  • Discussion of therapeutic strategies and target identification methods.

Main Results:

  • Key genetic alterations in receptor tyrosine kinases and pathway effectors drive thyroid cancer.
  • Significant progress has been made in treating unresectable thyroid cancer with targeted agents.
  • Evolving treatments demonstrate improved efficacy and resistance coverage.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies based on molecular pathogenesis have transformed thyroid cancer treatment.
  • Continued research into genetic drivers and laboratory techniques is essential for further therapeutic advancements.
  • Personalized medicine approaches are critical for managing thyroid carcinomas.
Keywords:
BRAF V600 EInhibitorKinase fusionNTRKRETResistance

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