Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025

05:39
Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Published on: February 3, 2023
1.7K
Progress in Thyroid Cancer Genomics: A 40-Year Journey
James A Fagin1,2, Yuri E Nikiforov3
1Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Thyroid : Official Journal of the American Thyroid Association
|September 5, 2023
Summary
Discoveries in molecular genetics have significantly advanced thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment. Future research will focus on understanding complex tumor ecosystems for improved therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Limited understanding of thyroid cancer molecular pathogenesis before the late 1980s.
- Historical review of discoveries for the American Thyroid Association Centennial.
- Focus on genetic underpinnings of thyroid cancer.
Approach:
- Linking primary observations in thyroid cancer molecular genetics with scientific advances.
- Highlighting the role of breakthroughs in sequencing technology, cancer biology, and cell signaling.
- Reviewing historical discoveries in thyroid development and growth regulation.
Key Points:
- Major genetic drivers of common thyroid cancers are now established.
- These drivers significantly impact disease diagnosis and treatment strategies.
- Advances in nucleic acid sequencing and cancer biology were crucial.
Conclusions:
- Current understanding of thyroid cancer genetics has been shaped by historical discoveries.
- Challenges remain in unraveling the complexity of thyroid cancer ecosystems.
- Future research will explore tumor ecosystems for therapeutic insights.
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Progression
6.4K
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...
6.4K
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
4.7K
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...
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...
4.7K
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
7.5K
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
7.5K
Next-generation Sequencing
91.4K
The first human genome sequencing project cost $2.7 billion and was declared complete in 2003, after 15 years of international cooperation and collaboration between several research teams and funding agencies. Today, with the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies, the cost and time of sequencing a human genome have dropped over 100 fold.
Next-Generation Sequencing Methods
Although all next-generation methods use different technologies, they all share a set of standard features....
Next-Generation Sequencing Methods
Although all next-generation methods use different technologies, they all share a set of standard features....
91.4K
Targeted Cancer Therapies
7.7K
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.7K
The Thyroid Gland
4.0K
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
4.0K

