Identifying differentially expressed genes associated with metastasis of follicular thyroid cancer by cDNA expression array

Patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma have a higher incidence of metas tasis than papillary thyroid carcinoma when thyroid cancer is diagnosed. Th e cDNA expression array technology is utilized herein to profile differenti ally expressed genes from metastatic human follicular thyroid carcinoma and reveal new tumor markers as well as target genes for therapeutic intervent ion. Tissue samples were obtained during surgical resection of the thyroid follicular carcinoma and metastatic tissue in the brain of the same patient . Two identical Atlas human cDNA expression arrays were hybridized with P-3 2-labeled cDNA probes derived from RNA of either primary thyroid cancer or metastatic tissue. Parallel analysis of the hybridized signals allowed us t o identify the alteration of gene expression in the metastasis process. Eig hteen genes significantly overexpressed and 40 genes significantly underexp ressed were identified in the metastatic thyroid cancer. Genes that display ed an altered expression were associated with the processes of cell cycle r egulation, apoptosis, DNA damage response, angiogenesis, cell adhesion and mobility, invasion, and immune response. An expression profile of genes tha t are associated with metastasis process of follicular thyroid cancer was a lso discussed. Further investigation is required to understand the precise relationship between the altered expression of these genes and the metastas is process of follicular thyroid cancer.