Thyroid tumorigenesis and molecular markers in thyroid cancer

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to provide an update on recent advances in the understanding of thyroid cancer tumorigensis and implications in clinical practice. Recent findings Recent novel and promising findings include additional abnormalities in key pathways associated with thyroid tumorigenesis (RET-Ras-BRAF-MEK; RET-beta-cateinin; TRK-PI3K-AKT; and MDM-p53-PTEN), single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with thyroid cancer susceptibility, epigenetic silencing, alternative splicing, and gene expression abnormalities. Complex regulatory mechanisms and insights into ways in which molecular aberrancies occur are becoming better understood through this research. Summary With ongoing research, clinical problems such as the suspicious thyroid fine needle aspiration, better treatment algorithms for well differentiated thyroid cancer, and more effective treatment for anaplastic cancer will likely be found.