Elucidation of Prognostic Markers and their Molecular Mechanism for Thyroid Cancer

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26293222
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Endocrinology
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: YAMASHITA Shunichi 長崎大学, 原爆後障害医療研究所, 教授 (30200679)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中島 正洋 長崎大学, 原爆後障害医療研究所, 教授 (50284683) ; 光武 範吏 長崎大学, 原爆後障害医療研究所, 准教授 (50404215) ; サエンコ ウラジミール 長崎大学, 原爆後障害医療研究所, 准教授 (30343346)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 内分泌学 / 甲状腺がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have demonstrated that the coexistence of the BRAF and the TERT promoter mutation is strongly associated with recurrence of thyroid cancers. This may be very useful for clinical management of thyroid cancer patients. However, the TERT promoter mutation is strongly correlated with higher age, implying that this marker is unfortunately not useful for young patients. The FOXE1 overexpression is observed in thyroid cancer tissues but may not have a strong influence on cancer development. We have also identified that the intracellular signaling cascade, PDGFbeta/JAK/STAT/NF-kappaB, plays an important role in the cancer stem properties in thyroid cancer stem cells. These results enable us to provide a molecular basis for a novel molecular-targeted therapy.

Free Research Field

内分泌学