Chapter 8

Potential Markers for the Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer

Silvia Cantara

Abstract

Some of the genetic alterations described in thyroid cancer, such as RET/PTC rearrangements, RAS point mutations and PAX8/PPARγ rearrangements, have also been found in benign lesions. The only exception is the point mutation V600E of BRAF oncogene, which is specific for the malignant histology. For this reason, researchers are seeking new markers expressed only by cancer tissues. Among these, telomerase activity and expression, together with miRNAs expression, have been proposed to be able to distinguish benign from malignant lesions both in tissues and FNAC samples with high specificity.

Total Pages: 96-111 (16)

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