microRNA in Thyroid Cancer
Condition: FNA; microRNA; Thyroid Cancer; Thyroid Nodule
MeSH terms: Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroid Nodule; Thyroid Diseases
Study type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Summary: 
      Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and its incidence is rapidly
      increasing. Palpable thyroid nodules are very common, affecting up to 5% of the general
      population. Nevertheless, only 5% of the thyroid nodules harbor malignancy, hence the obvious
      need to accurately characterise these nodules. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration
      biopsy (FNAB) is the most important tool in assessing the nature of thyroid nodules, however,
      in up to 30% of the biopsies the results are indeterminate. In this proposal, the
      investigators hypothesize that leftover cells in the FNAB needle may be utilized for
      molecular analysis with an established microRNA panel and distinguish between malignant and
      benign lesions. Despite established studies on the diagnostic utility of microRNAs in thyroid
      nodules, the effect of microRNAs on specific target genes involved in thyroid cancer is
      poorly studied. In this proposal the investigators hypothesize that the microRNAs identified
      in our panel will affect intracellular pathways by regulating target genes that are involved
      in thyroid tumorigenesis. The investigators present preliminary data that confirms that
      microRNA panel may identify malignancy in thyroid nodules. In aim 1 the investigators will
      identify the expression profile of miRNAs in the different thyroid cancers. the investigators
      will statistically quantify the threshold of miRNA dysregulation for malignancy on a large
      number of tumor and benign samples. This will serve as matrix for defining malignancy on the
      FNAB samples. In aim 2 the investigators will establish a reliable reproducible method to
      extract RNA from cells left over in FNAB samples. the investigators' preliminary data support
      the feasibility of the method and it has not been described previously. This will be the
      first study that will compare cytology results and microRNA panel analysis on the very same
      FNAB cells. It will mimic the exact clinical scenario that such microRNA panel can be
      utilized in the future. Finally, in aim 3 the investigators will characterize the effect of
      microRNAs on target genes expression. the investigators will identify possible target genes
      from bioinformatics databases and will perform quantitative measurement of mRNA level of
      target gene by real time PCR and immunohistochemistry. These studies will hopefully support
      the utility of microRNAs as a diagnostic tool to accurately identify malignancy in thyroid
      FNAB leftover cells and point out possible target genes for future therapeutic approaches.
      This could impact many patients, as thyroid cancer is the 5th most common cancer in women,
      and the most rapidly growing malignancy in both men and women.
    


Intervention name(s): Fine needle aspiration
Intervention type(s): Other
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Patients undergoing FNA
      
Biospecimen description: 
      FNA samples, CDNA, RNA