A.A. Stepanova1, Z.A. Afanasieva2, 3
1Kazan State Medical University, Kazan
2KSMA — branch campus of the of the FSBEI FPE RMACPE MOH Russia, Kazan
3Republican Clinical Oncological Dispensary, Kazan
Stepanova A.A. — resident doctor of the Department of Oncology, Radiation Diagnostics and Radiation Therapy
49 Butlerova St., 420012 Kazan, Russian Federation, tel.: 8-927-868-71-30, e-mail: anastasiya23s@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9610-5234
Abstract. To review genomic studies of molecular prognostic factors in medullary thyroid cancer.
Material and methods. We analyzed the relevant literature sources in the PubMed database according to the keywords included in the title. Of the 113 studies found, 33 were used to write this systematic review.
Results. According to research, medullary thyroid cancer is a relatively rare neuroendocrine cancer that originates from the parafollicular C-cells of the thyroid gland, which are responsible for the production of calcitonin. This type of cancer accounts for approximately 1-5% of all thyroid cancer cases. It can occur in both hereditary and sporadic forms. The hereditary type is a consequence of the activation of the RET proto-oncogene by germline mutations, whereas about 80% of sporadic medullary thyroid cancer tumors contain somatic mutations, mainly RET or, less commonly, RAS. In addition to RET gene mutations, there are currently no other reliable molecular prognostic markers.
Conclusion. Population studies on medullary thyroid cancer require a large number of patients. Due to the rarity of the disease, this is a challenge for this cancer. This can also lead to inconsistent results in research. However, molecular stratification is a step towards personalized treatment for medullary thyroid cancer and requires further research.
Key words: medullary cancer, thyroid gland, molecular profile, prognosis