??lecular characterization of thyroid gland tumors:biological and clinical aspects

Thyroid cancer is the most frequently occurring endocrine malignancy. It is classified into four main histological types (papillary, follicular, anaplastic and medullary carcinoma), although several subtypes exist accompanied with differences in biological behavior and aggressiveness. Differential diagnostics of thyroid carcinoma types and distinguishing a malignant tumor from its benign counterpart are problems in thyroid oncology. Part of our investigation will focus on identification of molecular/genetic markers of thyroid malignancy which would facilitate differential diagnostics of thyroid tumors, predict prognosis or help as a tool for targeted gene therapy. Another part of our investigations will be directed to analysis of molecular changes encountered in the progression of thyroid malignancy, i.e. the identification of molecular markers altered during transformation of differentiated into anaplastic (undifferentiated) carcinoma. For these reasons we will compare markers of cell proliferation and apoptosis in papillary and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and analyze their significance in tumor biology during the progression of malignancy. These investigations will be performed using suitable methodological approaches. We hope to contribute to a better understanding of the biology of thyroid tumors and to provid? additional knowledge for the development of more effective strategies in thyroid cancer diagnostics, prognosis and therapy.