Immunohistochemical Diagnosis of Thyroid Tumors

Abstract

Recent insight into the molecular mechanisms of thyroid carcinogenesis has led to studies involving newly directed antibodies. With the introduction of new molecular targeted therapies, these antibodies may represent useful predictors of therapeutic response in tumors unresponsive to radioiodine or insensitive to conventional antitumor therapies. These markers complement the development of markers that are able to discern benign from malignant entities, including hyalinizing trabecular tumors, oncocytic neoplasms, and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The use of antibodies directed to proteins generated by mutated genes may represent a cost-effective method for diagnosing and managing patients affected by thyroid tumors.

Keywords: Immunochemistry; Prognosis; Target therapy; Thyroid carcinoma.