Biomedical
Genetic susceptibility to hereditary non-medullary thyroid cancer
Peer Reviewed
Abstract
Non-medullary thyroid cancer (NMTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer. With the increasing incidence of NMTC in recent years, the familial form of the disease has also become more common than previously reported, accounting for 5–15% of NMTC cases. Familial NMTC is further classified as non-syndromic and the less common syndromic FNMTC. Although syndromic NMTC has well-known genetic risk factors, the gene(s) responsible for the vast majority of non-syndromic FNMTC cases are yet to be identified. To date, several candidate genes have been identified as susceptibility genes in hereditary NMTC. This review summarizes genetic predisposition to non-medullary thyroid cancer and expands on the role of genetic variants in thyroid cancer tumorigenesis and the level of penetrance of NMTC-susceptibility genes.
Key Questions
What is non-medullary thyroid cancer (NMTC), and how prevalent is its familial form?
NMTC is the most common type of thyroid cancer, originating from follicular cells. Familial forms of NMTC account for 5–15% of cases, with an increasing incidence in recent years.
How is familial NMTC classified?
Familial NMTC is classified into syndromic and non-syndromic forms. Syndromic NMTC is associated with well-known genetic risk factors, while the genes responsible for most non-syndromic cases remain unidentified.
What are some candidate genes identified as susceptibility genes in hereditary NMTC?
Several candidate genes have been identified as susceptibility genes in hereditary NMTC, including DIRC3, FOXE1, HABP2, NRG1, and SRGAP1.
What is the significance of understanding genetic predisposition to NMTC?
Understanding genetic predisposition to NMTC can aid in early detection, personalized treatment strategies, and improved patient outcomes by identifying individuals at higher risk.
