Notch in the development of thyroid C-cells and the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer

Mackenzie Cook, Xiao Min Yu, Herbert Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Notch pathway plays an important role in the normal development of neuroendocrine cells, including the calcitonin producing C-cells of the thyroid. This effect has been elucidated to be mediated through modulation of Achaete-Scute Complex Like 1 (ASCL1), a transcription factor associated with poor prognosis in neuroendocrine cancer. Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is one of the neuroendocrine cancers derived from the thyroid C-cells. The Notch pathway has been shown to be inactive in MTC which may lead to altered expression of ASCL1. Artificial induction of Notch signaling in MTC cells can suppress ASCL1 expression, the cell growth as well as hormone secreting potential. Pharmacological activation of the Notch pathway also successfully suppresses the tumor growth in an animal model, which sheds light on the targeted therapy of Notch as a potential treatment for intractable MTC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)119-125
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Translational Research
Volume2
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Achaete-scute complex like 1
  • Medullary thyroid cancer
  • Notch

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Notch in the development of thyroid C-cells and the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this