Regulation of microRNA biosynthesis and expression in 2102Ep embryonal carcinoma stem cells is mirrored in ovarian serous adenocarcinoma patients.

Background: Tumours with high proportions of differentiated cells are considered to be of a lower grade to those containing high proportions of undifferentiated cells. This property may be linked to the differentiation properties of stem cell-like populations within malignancies. We aim to identify molecular mechanism associated with the generation of tumours with differing grades from malignant stem cell populations with different differentiation potentials.

RET/PTC rearrangement occurring in primary peritoneal carcinoma.

RET/PTC rearrangements are initiating events in the development of a significant proportion of papillary thyroid carcinomas. Activated RET/PTC mutations are thought to be restricted to thyroid disease, but this study proposes that these events may also occur in nonthyroid tumors. A total of 57 nonthyroid papillary tumors were examined for RET/PTC rearrangements using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization, Taqman reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry.

Geographical mapping of a multifocal thyroid tumour using genetic alteration analysis & miRNA profiling.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) frequently presents as multiple tumour-foci within a single thyroid gland or pluriform, with synchronous tumours comprising different histological variants, raising questions regarding its clonality. Among the genetic aberrations described in PTC, the BRAF V600E mutation and ret/PTC activation occur most commonly. Several studies have investigated the genetic alteration status of multifocal thyroid tumours, with discordant results.

Potentially important microRNA cluster on chromosome 17p13.1 in primary peritoneal carcinoma.

MicroRNAs are a group of small non-coding RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length. Recent work has shown differential expression of mature microRNAs in human cancers. We characterized the alteration in expression of a select group of microRNAs in primary peritoneal carcinoma relative to matched cases of ovarian serous carcinoma.

ret/PTC-1 expression alters the immunoprofile of thyroid follicular cells.

Background: Hashimoto Thyroiditis (H.T.) is a destructive autoimmune thyroid condition whose precise molecular pathogenesis remains unclear.

Altered eIF6 and Dicer expression is associated with clinicopathological features in ovarian serous carcinoma patients.

MicroRNAs are a group of small non-coding RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length. Recent work has shown differential expression of mature microRNAs in human cancers. Production and function of microRNAs require coordinated processing by proteins of the microRNA machinery.

Improved RNA quality and TaqMan Pre-amplification method (PreAmp) to enhance expression analysis from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) materials.

Background: Archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues represent an abundant source of clinical specimens; however their use is limited in applications involving analysis of gene expression due to RNA degradation and modification during fixation and processing. This study improved the quality of RNA extracted from FFPE by introducing a heating step into the selected extraction protocols. Further, it evaluated a novel pre-amplification system (PreAmp) designed to enhance expression analysis from tissue samples using assays with a range of amplicon size (62-164 bp).

A molecular expression signature distinguishing follicular lesions in thyroid carcinoma using preamplification RT-PCR in archival samples.

Follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is a lesion that frequently causes difficulties from a diagnostic perspective in the laboratory. The purpose of this study was to interrogate a cohort of archival thyroid lesions using gene expression analysis of a panel of markers proposed to have utility as adjunctive markers in the diagnosis of thyroid neoplasia and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma in particular. Laser Capture Microdissection was used to procure pure cell populations for extraction.

Comparison of miRNA expression patterns using total RNA extracted from matched samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cells and snap frozen cells.

Background: Archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues have limited utility in applications involving analysis of gene expression due to mRNA degradation and modification during fixation and processing. This study analyzed 160 miRNAs in paired snap frozen and FFPE cells to investigate if miRNAs may be successfully detected in archival specimens.

Results: Our results show that miRNA extracted from FFPE blocks was successfully amplified using Q-RT-PCR.

BRAF T1799A mutation occurring in a case of malignant struma ovarii.

Struma ovarii is an extremely rare tumor that occasionally undergoes malignant transformation. Because struma ovarii is composed of thyroid tissue, it is conceivable that the pathogenetic events involved in thyroid follicular transformation may take place also in struma ovarii. The authors describe a case of a classical variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in a struma ovarii of a 22-year-old female.

Effect of BRAFV600E mutation on transcription and post-transcriptional regulation in a papillary thyroid carcinoma model.

Background: microRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of non-coding single stranded RNAs measuring approximately 22 nucleotides in length that have been found to control cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. They negatively regulate target genes and have recently been implicated in tumourigenesis. Furthermore, miRNA expression profiling correlates with various cancers, with these genes thought to act as both tumour suppressors and oncogenes.

Effect of ret/PTC 1 rearrangement on transcription and post-transcriptional regulation in a papillary thyroid carcinoma model.

Background: microRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of non-coding single stranded RNAs measuring approximately 22 nt in length that have been found to control cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. miRNAs negatively regulate their target genes and recently have been implicated in tumourigenesis. Furthermore, miRNA expression profiling correlates with various cancers, with these genes thought to act as both tumour suppressors and oncogenes.