Are we really at the dawn of understanding sporadic pediatric thyroid carcinoma?

Author(s)

Cordioli, Maria Isabel C. Vieira ^{[1, 2]} ; Moraes, Lais ^{[1, 2]} ; Cury, Adriano Namo ^[3] ; Cerutti, Janete M. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Morphol & Genet, Genet Bases Thyroid Tumors Lab, Div Genet, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Med, Div Endocrinol, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericordia Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Med, Dept Med, Div Endocrinol, BR-01221020 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer; v. 22, n. 6, p. R311-R324, DEC 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 18

Abstract

Data from the National Cancer Institute and from the literature have disclosed an increasing incidence of thyroid cancer in children, adolescents and adults. Although children and adolescents with thyroid cancer tend to present with more advanced disease than adults, their overall survival rate is excellent; however, there is no clear explanation for the differences observed in the clinicopathological outcomes in these age groups. There has been an ongoing debate regarding whether the clinicopathological differences may be due to the existence of distinct genetic alterations. Efforts have been made to identify these acquired genetic abnormalities that will determine the tumor's biological behavior and ultimately allow molecular prognostication. However, most of the studies have been performed in radiation-exposed pediatric thyroid carcinoma. Therefore, our understanding of the role of these driver mutations in sporadic pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer development is far from complete, and additionally, there is a strong need for studies in both children and adolescents. The aim of this review is to present an extensive literature review with emphasis on the molecular differences between pediatric sporadic and radiation-exposed differentiated thyroid carcinomas and adult population. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/02902-9 - The role of microRNAs in the regulation of C1orf24 expression in thyroid tumors
• Grantee: Janete Maria Cerutti
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants