Research progress of genes related to differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Over the recent years, the detection rate of thyroid cancer gradually increases due to the application of high resolution ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration cytology. Although most of the patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have sound prognosis, some patients easily develop cervical lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis to lung, bone and brain. In worse cases, dedifferentiation of lesions will occur, leading to poor prognosis. At present, many studies at home and abroad have shown that gene mutation plays an important role in DTC occurring and developing process, as well as in its prognosis. Inhibitors of relevant genes are regarded as a new hope to patients with dedifferentiation of focus, and they are of great significance to the guidance of clinician’s decision. The mechanism and clinical significance of common gene mutations in DTC are reviewed in this paper.