The assessment of malignancy of follicular thyroid cancer is a challenge as its molecular determinants are not completely understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are abnormally expressed or lost in a variety of cancers, leading Rossing and colleagues to investigate their use in classifying tumours. By using global miRNA analysis they identified differentially expressed miRNAs in follicular thyroid carcinoma (150 compared to normal thyroid) and adenoma (107 compared to normal thyroid). They then identified potential targets and analysed molecular pathways and expression of target mRNAs. One transcript, miR-199b-5p which was lost in the carcinoma, decreased cell doubling time by ~23%, indicating it may be involved in the growth of follicular carcinoma. miRNA analysis may thus facilitate diagnosis of follicular thyroid cancer. Rossing et al. (2011) Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 48 (in press).

Read the full article at: DOI: 10.1530/JME-11-0039