Gene expression profiles in thyroid carcinomas

The gene expression profiles of human thyroid carcinomas were analysed by s erial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) which allows quantitative and simu ltaneous analysis of a large number of transcripts. More than 29 000 transc ripts derived from a normal thyroid tissue and four thyroid tumours were an alysed. While extensive similarity was noted between the expression profile s of the normal thyroid tissue and three differentiated thyroid tumours, ma ny transcripts, such as osteonectin, a-tubulin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase, and thyroglobulin, were expressed at extremely different levels in differentiated and undifferentiated carcinom as. These data provide new information that might be used to identify genes useful for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid carcinomas. (C) 2000 Can cer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com.