Growth factors and their receptors in the genesis and treatment of thyroid cancer.

The oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes that are implicated in the transformation and progression of the majority of thyroid neoplasms remain unknown. Mutations that have been identified in other human malignancies are restricted to a relatively small subset of thyroid neoplasms, if they are identified at all. It would appear that novel genetic alterations are implicated including the well-characterized ret/PTC rearrangements. Numerous factors have been shown to govern thyroid cell differentiation and proliferation. Indeed, increasing evidence suggests that many of these growth factors and their receptors can also be implicated in tumor cell progression in genetically transformed thyrocytes. The molecular mechanisms underlying dysregulated thyroid cell growth and their potential role in the tumorigenic pathway will be discussed.