New insights into the molecular signature of differentiated thyroid cancer: implications for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy

Thyroid cancer (TC) is rare. Micro TC and TC that became radioiodine refractory (RAR-TC) are even rarer. The identification of a molecular profile able to distinguish cases that will progress from indolent mPTC to clinical case and those that will develop metastases and become RAR-TC would be of great scientific and clinical interest. Given the rarity of TC, it is necessary to put together centers involved in the management of TC patients. The research will be organized in one main project with 2 targets and 4 subprojects. Main project: target a) identification of the mutation profile of TC by NGS (Pisa Unit); target b) analysis of ctDNA in the plasma of TC patients (Pisa Unit). Genetic alterations will be validated with Mass Spectrometry (Milan Unit). Subprojects: a) identification of a miRNA profile of TC still able to take up iodine and RAR TC (Rome Unit); b) correlation between DKK1 tissue expression and serum levels with TC metastatization (Turin Unit); c) identification of the immune profile of TC as target of novel immunomodulatory drugs (Perugia Unit); e) study of deiodinase D2 and D3 involvement in tumor development and progression (Naples Unit). All Units will collaborate to the research; biological samples and clinical information will be shared by the Units.