Proteomic analysis of human thyroid cells

Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is the second most common thyroid cancer, but is far more aggressive, has a greater rate of recurrence, and is more likely to metastasize than papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). In addition, FTC is difficult to diagnose even by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Genetic rearrangements in PAX8 and PPARG which result in the overexpression of the fusion protein PPFP have been found in FTC, though the exact role of PPFP in FTC is unclear. A full systematic proteome analysis has never been performed in human thyroid cells transfected with PPFP before, so this work by Li and colleagues breaks new ground, finding 28 differentially expressed proteins, including several which are directly involved in malignant thyroid transformation. These findings represent a starting point for the improved diagnosis and targeted treatment of FTC. Li et al. (2012) Endocrine-Related Cancer 19 681–694.

Read the full article at: DOI: 10.1530/ERC-12-0156