This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate capstone course at UW-Madison.
What is the Thyroid?The Thyroid is a gland located in the neck above the Trachea. This butterfly shaped gland consisting of two lobes is responsible for producing hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight. Like many other parts of the human body, the Thyroid is susceptible to cancer development. In the United States, Thyroid cancer is the 8th most common cancer and is usually curable. [1]
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Figure 1. Diagram of the Thyroid Gland
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What is Non-Medullary Thyroid Cancer?
There are four main types of Thyroid Cancer: Papillary, Follicular, Medullary, and Anaplastic. [1] Hurthle Cell Cancer (HCC) is also a type of thyroid cancer that is often considered a sub-group of Follicular Cancer (FC), but clinical comparison of the two cancers show different behavior and it is suggested that HCC and FC be categorized as different cancers. [2] Non-Medullary Thyroid Cancer (NMTC) refers to any type of thyroid cancer that originates from the follicular cells of the thyroid gland (and therefore not characterized as being a Medullary thyroid cancer). [3]
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Data from Hundahl et al. [4] 5-Year Relative Survival Rate represents relative survival rates of all age groups.
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What are the Causes of Thyroid Cancers?
While the specific causes behind the development of thyroid cancers are unknown, exposure to ionizing radiation and genetic predisposition may contribute to the development of thyroid cancers. [5] Thyroid cancer also tends to be more prevalent in females than males. [6]
Radiation |
Hereditary |
High doses of radiation exposure has been shown to increase the risk for developing thyroid cancer. Radiation exposure from X-ray treatments and nuclear disasters has shown an increased risk for developing thyroid cancer later in life. [5]
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It is estimated that approximately 5% of all NMTC cases can be categorized as hereditary non-medullary thyroid cancers. [7]
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What are the symptoms and how is it treated?While thyroid cancers typically do not present noticeable symptoms, its most common symptom is a lump in the neck. But as fewer than 1% of all thyroid nodules are cancerous, diagnosis of thyroid cancers require examination of the nodules by pathologists.
If the nodules are identified as cancerous, the thyroid gland may be partially or fully removed to eliminate the cancerous cells. As the thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland are essential for survival, patients with total removal of the thyroid gland will have to take daily doses of thyroid hormone medications post- surgery. [8] |
Figure 2. A list of common thyroid cancer symptoms.
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Forkhead Box E1 (FOXE1) Gene
The Forkhead Box E1 (FOXE1) gene is a thyroid transcription factor that is part of a larger group of transcription factors referred to as Forkhead Box (FOX). [9] First identified in Drosophila embryos, the FOX genes play an important role in cell differentiation. [10] FOXE1 in particular is required in the differentiation and function of the thyroid gland. [11] Various studies of different ethnic groups demonstrated that variation (in the form of Single-Nucleotide polymorphisms) in the FOXE1 gene showed association with increased susceptibility to NMTC. [12] [13]
Other Names for FOXE1
FKHL15; TTF2; TITF2
References
[1] Thyroid Cancer- Patient Version. (n.d.). National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/types/thyroid
[2]Kushchayeva Y, Duh QY, Kebebew E, D'Avanzo A, Clark OH (2007). "Comparison of clinical characteristics at diagnosis and during follow-up in 118 patients with Hurthle cell or follicular thyroid cancer". Am J Surg. 195 (4): 457–62. doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.06.001
[3] Thyroid Cancer. (n.d.) . Drugs.com. Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/health-guide/thyroid-cancer.html
[4 ]Hundahl, S. A., Fleming, I. D., Fremgen, A. M. and Menck, H. R. (1998), A National Cancer Data Base report on 53,856 cases of thyroid carcinoma treated in the U.S., 1985-1995. Cancer, 83: 2638–2648. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19981215)83:12<2638::AID-CNCR31>3.0.CO;2-1
[5] Thyroid Cancer (Papillary and Follicular). (n.d.). American Thyroid Association. Retrieved from www.thyroid.org/thyroid-cancer/
[6] “Cancer Stat Facts: Thyroid Cancer.” Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/thyro.html
[7]Kebebew, E. World J Surg (2008) 32: 678. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-007-9312-z
[8] “Thyroid Cancer.” EndocrineWeb, www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid-cancer/thyroid-cancer
[9]Carlsson P., Mahlapuu M.. Forkhead transcription factors: key players in development and metabolism, Dev. Biol. , 2002, vol. 250 (pg. 1-23) https://doi.org/10.1006/dbio.2002.0780
[10] Weigel D, Jürgens G, Küttner F, Seifert E, Jäckle H (1989). "The homeotic gene fork head encodes a nuclear protein and is expressed in the terminal regions of the Drosophila embryo". Cell. 57 (4): 645–658. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(89)90133-5
[11] R. A. Tomaz, I. Sousa, J. G. Silva et al., “FOXE1 polymorphisms are associated with familial and sporadic nonmedullary thyroid cancer susceptibility,” Clinical Endocrinology, vol. 77, no. 6, 926–933, 2012. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2012.04505.x
[12] E. Somuncu, A. Karatas, S. Ferahman et al., “The investigation of foxe1 variations in papillary thyroid carcinoma,” International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, vol. 8, no. 10, pp. 13458–13464, 2015. PMCID: PMC4680502
[13] M. Bullock, E. L. Duncan, C. O'Neill et al., “Association of FOXE1 polyalanine repeat region with papillary thyroid cancer,” Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 97, no. 9, pp. E1814–E1819, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2012-1456
[2]Kushchayeva Y, Duh QY, Kebebew E, D'Avanzo A, Clark OH (2007). "Comparison of clinical characteristics at diagnosis and during follow-up in 118 patients with Hurthle cell or follicular thyroid cancer". Am J Surg. 195 (4): 457–62. doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.06.001
[3] Thyroid Cancer. (n.d.) . Drugs.com. Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/health-guide/thyroid-cancer.html
[4 ]Hundahl, S. A., Fleming, I. D., Fremgen, A. M. and Menck, H. R. (1998), A National Cancer Data Base report on 53,856 cases of thyroid carcinoma treated in the U.S., 1985-1995. Cancer, 83: 2638–2648. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19981215)83:12<2638::AID-CNCR31>3.0.CO;2-1
[5] Thyroid Cancer (Papillary and Follicular). (n.d.). American Thyroid Association. Retrieved from www.thyroid.org/thyroid-cancer/
[6] “Cancer Stat Facts: Thyroid Cancer.” Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/thyro.html
[7]Kebebew, E. World J Surg (2008) 32: 678. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-007-9312-z
[8] “Thyroid Cancer.” EndocrineWeb, www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid-cancer/thyroid-cancer
[9]Carlsson P., Mahlapuu M.. Forkhead transcription factors: key players in development and metabolism, Dev. Biol. , 2002, vol. 250 (pg. 1-23) https://doi.org/10.1006/dbio.2002.0780
[10] Weigel D, Jürgens G, Küttner F, Seifert E, Jäckle H (1989). "The homeotic gene fork head encodes a nuclear protein and is expressed in the terminal regions of the Drosophila embryo". Cell. 57 (4): 645–658. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(89)90133-5
[11] R. A. Tomaz, I. Sousa, J. G. Silva et al., “FOXE1 polymorphisms are associated with familial and sporadic nonmedullary thyroid cancer susceptibility,” Clinical Endocrinology, vol. 77, no. 6, 926–933, 2012. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2012.04505.x
[12] E. Somuncu, A. Karatas, S. Ferahman et al., “The investigation of foxe1 variations in papillary thyroid carcinoma,” International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, vol. 8, no. 10, pp. 13458–13464, 2015. PMCID: PMC4680502
[13] M. Bullock, E. L. Duncan, C. O'Neill et al., “Association of FOXE1 polyalanine repeat region with papillary thyroid cancer,” Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 97, no. 9, pp. E1814–E1819, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2012-1456
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Contact Info.Franklin YeoLast updated: 3/01/2018
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