Proteomics in thyroid tumor research.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In recent years, "OMICS" technologies have paved novel ways for the broad-scale identification of molecular signatures and signaling pathways specific to tumorigenesis. Related to this are high hopes for the discovery of biomarkers facilitating diagnosis and prognosis of cancer as well as the option for pathway-targeted tumor treatment. Among the different OMICS methods, the potential of proteomics is just beginning to emerge, and according to the current literature, the proteome is to date the most feasible tool to reflect tumor biology. OBJECTIVE: In this review we discuss the application of proteomics to the field of thyroid tumor research. CONTEXT First, we provide an overview of different methods for protein expression profiling and then discuss specific requirements and challenges of thyroid proteomics. Furthermore, we summarize results of published proteomics studies on human thyroid tumors and finally explore perspectives of thyroid proteomics, which, combined with mRNA expression profiling and traditional biochemical methods, is increasingly contributing to an improved understanding of thyroid tumorigenesis and may in the future open novel avenues in thyroid cancer therapy.