Thyroid Cancer

The EIF1AX gene was recently described as a new thyroid cancer-related gene, and its mutations were found not only in well-differentiated tumours but also in poorly-differentiated and anaplastic carcinomas, as well as in benign lesions.

A team of Ipatimup/i3S researchers in collaboration with researchers from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute of Miami published a study in Hormones and Cancer and researchers presently at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), where they evaluated the effect of two new GHRH antagonists, MIA602 and MIA690, on thyroid cancer, using in vitro and in vivo models.

Uma equipa de investigadores do Ipatimup/i3S publicou um estudo, em colaboração com investigadores do Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute de Miami e investigadores presentemente da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), na revista Hormones and Cancer, onde avaliaram o efeito de dois novos antagonistas de GHRH, MIA602 e MIA690, em cancro da tireoide, utilizando modelos in vitro e in vivo.

Two young doctors from the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Lisbon reviewed the clinical files of more than 2,000 patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and evaluated the risk of developing other primary cancer elsewhere. They concluded that total administered activities of Iodine-131 above 200mCi could increase the risk. But the administration of low activities was not associated with the risk of having other cancers. The Differentiated Thyroid Cancer is the most common cancer in endocrinology and it is believed its incidence will increase in the next years.

Duas médicas do IPOLFG reviram o processo clínico de mais de 2.000 de doentes com cancro diferenciado da tiróide e avaliaram o risco de desenvolverem outras neoplasias primárias. Verificaram que actividades acumuladas de Iodo-131 acima dos 200mCi podem ter influência. A administração de actividades mais baixas, parece não ter riscos associados. Este cancro é o mais frequente em endocrinologia e prevê-se que a sua incidência aumente significativamente.

O cancro de tiroide (CT) é frequentemente associado com mutações nos genes BRAF ou RAS e rearranjos RET / PTC, que levam à ativação aberrante da via de sinalização MAPK-ERK e/ou a ativação da via PI3K. A proteína BRAF está envolvida na ativação das ERKs na maioria das células de CT, mas não nas células TPC-1, que possuem um rearranjo RET/PTC1.

The causal relation between external beam radiation and thyroid cancer is well known. However, there are few studies enlightening the real evolution of thyroid parenchyma changes along the years. The authors report 10 cases of childhood cancer survivors whose thyroid was direct or indirectly involved in the irradiation field. They have been followed since they finished their cancer treatments, taking into account their increased risk of thyroid nodes development and, subsequently, thyroid cancer. There are lacking adequate protocols to monitor patients in these conditions.

One of the great challenges of modern molecular biology is the integration of new genetic information into procedures that can be implemented in rapid, cost effective and reliable methods to genotype, phenotype, identify gene function, and development treatment for the disease. One of the major impacts of such methods and procedures is the increase of our knowledge and understanding of human biology leading to the recognition of the importance of molecular factors in disease aetiology.