Medullary thyroid cancer: the functions of raf-1 and human achaete-scute homologue-1

Thyroid. 2005 Jun;15(6):511-21. doi: 10.1089/thy.2005.15.511.

Abstract

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a prototypic neuroendocrine tumor of the thyroid C cells. Other than surgery, there are no curative therapies for MTC. In this review, we detail recent studies that suggest that targeting specific signaling pathways may be a viable strategy to control MTC tumor progression. Specifically, we discuss the role of the raf-1 and achaete-scute homologue-1 pathways in the MTC tumor growth and differentiation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Medullary / enzymology*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / enzymology*

Substances

  • ASCL1 protein, human
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf