Molecular diagnosis by the WNT signaling pathway in thyroid nodules

• Grant number: 17/16493-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Human and Medical Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Renata de Azevedo Canevari
• Grantee: Joyce Nascimento Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Thyroid carcinomas are the most common endocrine malignancy, with a marked increase in incidence in recent years. It is now known that although there is progress in identifying molecular markers of diagnosis, it is still particularly difficult to determine with complete accuracy the diagnosis of a nodule by the molecular method. The WNT pathway is involved in several neoplasms but the detailed mechanisms of this pathway with tumor development are not yet fully understood. Some studies have correlated the activation of target genes belonging to this pathway with the development of thyroid lesions, but additional analyzes seeking potential diagnostic markers for these lesions are necessary. Considering these aspects, the objective of this study is to distinguish thyroid nodules, which frequently present contradictory results by traditional methods, through of the expression analysis of 84 genes belonging to the WNT pathway, to assist in the determination of a more I need these lesions.