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In vitro models of thyroid cancer
1Department of Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff.
Cancer Surveys
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Researchers modeled epithelial tumorigenesis in vitro, finding ras mutation is necessary and sufficient for benign thyroid neoplasms. Further studies will explore ret activation and cancer cell growth challenges.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Thyroid follicular cell neoplasia offers a model for epithelial tumorigenesis.
- Early stages of tumorigenesis are amenable to in vitro study.
- Genetic manipulation of human follicular cells is feasible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model epithelial tumorigenesis in vitro using thyroid follicular cells.
- To investigate the role of oncogenes, such as ras and ret, in thyroid neoplasia.
- To overcome challenges in in vitro modeling of later tumorigenesis stages.
Main Methods:
- Preparation and genetic manipulation of pure normal human follicular cell cultures.
- Use of retroviral vectors for oncogene testing.
- Utilizing conditionally immortalized normal cells and spontaneously immortalized rat cells.
Main Results:
- Ras mutation confirmed as necessary and sufficient for benign epithelial neoplasm induction in a human system.
- Ret activation shows potential for modeling divergent papillary and follicular tumor behaviors.
- Conditionally immortalized cells show promise for biochemical studies, despite differentiation instability.
Conclusions:
- In vitro modeling of thyroid epithelial tumorigenesis is advancing, particularly for early stages.
- Ras and ret oncogenes play critical roles in thyroid neoplasia.
- Improving in vitro growth of thyroid cancer cells is crucial for understanding advanced tumorigenesis.