Oncogenic BRAF disrupts thyroid morphogenesis and function via twist expression.

ABSTRACT: Thyroid cancer is common, yet the sequence of alterations that promote tumor formation are incompletely understood. Here, we describe a novel model of thyroid carcinoma in zebrafish that reveals temporal changes due to BRAF^V600E. Through the use of real-time in vivo imaging, we observe disruption in thyroid follicle structure that occurs early in thyroid development. Combinatorial treatment using BRAF and MEK inhibitors reversed the developmental effects induced by BRAF^V600E. Adult zebrafish expressing BRAF^V600E in thyrocytes developed invasive carcinoma. We identified a gene expression signature from zebrafish thyroid cancer that is predictive of disease-free survival in patients with papillary thyroid cancer. Gene expression studies nominated TWIST2 as a

SUBMITTER: Anelli V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5389860 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature