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Review
. 2014 Nov;19(11):1141-7.
doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2014-0135. Epub 2014 Oct 16.

MicroRNA expression profiles in the management of papillary thyroid cancer

James C Lee  1 , Justin S Gundara  2 , Anthony Glover  2 , Jonathan Serpell  2 , Stan B Sidhu  2
Affiliations
Review

MicroRNA expression profiles in the management of papillary thyroid cancer

James C Lee et al. Oncologist. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the major contributor to the dramatically increasing incidence of thyroid cancer. Low-risk PTC shows the most rapid rate of increase because of changing trends in neck imaging and the use of fine needle aspiration to investigate thyroid nodules. The need for a paradigm shift in the management of these patients, to provide personalized treatment and surveillance plans, has led to the focus on molecular biomarker research. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) compose a class of molecules with promising applications for every stage of PTC management, including diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and surveillance. Although most of the miRNA studies are currently preclinical, given the rapid progress of scientific discovery, clinical trials will not be far away. Thyroid clinicians will be expected to have good insights into the current status of PTC-related molecular translational research. This article focuses on the potential roles of miRNA in PTC management in the context of contemporary recommended clinical practice.

Keywords: Biological markers; Papillary carcinoma; Prognosis; Translational medical research; miRNAs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures of potential conflicts of interest may be found at the end of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic diagram depicting miRNA production. The Pri-miRNA is transcribed from a miRNA gene within the nucleus. The Pri-miRNA is then cleaved to become the Pre-miRNA, which is exported into the cytoplasm. Dicer processes the Pre-miRNA into the mature miRNA duplex. One of the strands is the guide strand, which is incorporated into the miRNA effector machine, known as the RNA-induced silencing complex. Cleavage or translational repression of the target mRNA occurs depending on the complementarity of the miRNA to the mRNA. Figure copyright Beth Croce, Bioperspective. Reproduced with permission. Abbreviations: AGO, Argonaute protein; miRNA, microRNA; Pre-miRNA, precusor microRNA; Pri-miRNA, primary microRNA; RISC, RNA-induced silencing complex.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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