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Current Genomics

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-2029
ISSN (Online): 1875-5488

Review Article

The Genetics of Papillary Microcarcinomas of the Thyroid: Diagnostic and Prognostic Implications

Author(s): Ana Cunha Rodrigues, Gustavo Penna, Elisabete Rodrigues, Patrícia Castro, Manuel Sobrinho-Simoes and Paula Soares

Volume 18, Issue 3, 2017

Page: [244 - 254] Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/1389202918666170105094459

Price: $65

Abstract

Papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid (mPTC) is defined by the WHO as a papillary thyroid cancer measuring 10mm or less in diameter and it is nowadays a topic of intense debate among the members of the medical community due to its apparent “epidemic” rise. Although these tumors follow almost always an indolent clinical course and carry an excellent prognosis, it is known that a small subset may display a potentially aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, we still lack an accurate way of predicting those which will cause significant disease. In an attempt to address this problem, a number of clinico-pathologic features have been studied as poor prognostic markers in mPTC, and their association with known genetic alterations in thyroid cancer has been evaluated. Herein we review the present knowledge concerning mPTC’s genetic profile, namely the prevalence of BRAF (V600E), RAS and TERT promoter mutations and RET/PTC and PAX8-PPARG rearrangements and report the results of the evaluation in the putative prognostic value of these genetic alterations in mPTC.

Keywords: Papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid, mPTC, BRAF, RAS, TERT, RET/PTC, Genetics, Prognosis.

Graphical Abstract

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