Abstract
Thyroid carcinomas, despite the usually indolent behaviour and relatively good overall prognosis, show a high tendency to gain invasive phenotype and metastasise in some cases. However, due to a relatively slow progression, the exact mechanisms governing the metastatic process of thyroid carcinomas, including the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), are poorly described. One of the best-known regulators of cancer invasiveness is Snail-1—a zinc-finger transcription factor that plays a key role as an EMT inducer. More and more attention is being paid to the role of Snail with regard to thyroid cancer development. Apart from the obvious implications in the EMT process, Snail-1 plays an important role in the regulation of chemoresistance of the thyroid cells and cancer stem cell (CSC) formation, and it also interacts with miRNA specific to the thyroid gland. The aim of this review was to summarise the knowledge on Snail-1, especially in the context of thyroid oncogenesis.
Highlights
Thyroid cancer remains one of the most common malignancies of the endocrine system
Process, Snail-1 plays an important role in the regulation of chemoresistance of the thyroid cells and cancer stem cell (CSC) formation, and it interacts with miRNA specific to the thyroid gland
The remaining cases include: follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), Hürthle cell carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma originating from the parafollicular C cell of the gland and, rarely, anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC)—the undifferentiated cancer that derives from thyroid follicular cell [3]
Summary
Thyroid cancer remains one of the most common malignancies of the endocrine system. Its frequency rate is gradually increasing; from 1990 to 2013, the global agestandardised incidence of thyroid cancer increased by 20% [1]. The most common thyroid cancers, accounting for over 90% of cases, are differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC), deriving from the follicular cell of the gland. It has been described that the invasiveness of many types of cancer, including thyroid cancer, is associated with multiphase processes, such as the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). During this conversion, epithelial cells lose contact with other cells within the tissue and gain mesenchymal properties, which may lead to metastatic dissemination [8]. Relatively little research concerning the role of Snail-1 in cancer invasiveness has been performed with regard to thyroid cancer As this type of malignancy usually presents long-term progression, its metastatic mechanisms are poorly described. A particular emphasis was put on the previous and new reports on the role of Snail-1 in thyroid cancer progression, its aggressiveness and its mutual relationship with other factors that are important for this process
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