Christofer Juhlin

The most common tumor form in the thyroid gland consists of so-called follicular tumors, where approx. 80% are benign adenomas and the remaining 20% malignant carcinomas. At present, we cannot safely distinguish the benign from the malignant tumors before being taken out in their entirety for microscopic assessment. This means that the surgeon initially operates the part of the thyroid gland where the tumor sits to get the correct diagnosis. If the tumor proves to be benign, the patient is cured, but in the case of malignant diagnosis, however, a second round of surgery is required. In this way, cancer patients are currently exposed to insufficient surgical procedures. We intend to use modern molecular methods to identify markers for the distinguishing of benign and malignant follicular thyroid tumors. This will be done by exom and whole-genome sequencing, two methods in which the tumor's genome is examined in detail. The changes that we find interesting will then be followed up with extended analyzes, with the ultimate goal of getting a functioning, clinical marker in practical use which already before surgery can guide the treating doctor to choose the right treatment. The goal of our projects is to find genetic abnormalities that partly explain the background to how malignant thyroid tumors arise, and partly to facilitate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this condition. The findings we make will also be tested on cell samples from the thyroid gland (which are routinely taken for pre-surgery investigation) to try to find these genetic abnormalities even before surgery. Thus, this research helps us identify high-risk tumors by correctly diagnosing before surgery, which would result in proper management and thus less time for vital radioactive iodine supplemental therapy.

The most common tumor form in the thyroid gland consists of so-called follicular tumors, where approx. 80% are benign adenomas and the remaining 20% malignant carcinomas. At present, we cannot safely distinguish the benign from the malignant tumors before being taken out in their entirety for microscopic assessment. This means that the surgeon initially operates the part of the thyroid gland where the tumor sits to get the correct diagnosis. If the tumor proves to be benign, the patient is cured, but in the case of malignant diagnosis, however, a second round of surgery is required. In this way, cancer patients are currently exposed to insufficient surgical procedures. We intend to use modern molecular methods to identify markers for the distinguishing of benign and malignant follicular thyroid tumors. This will be done by exom and whole-genome sequencing, two methods in which the tumor's genome is examined in detail. The changes that we find interesting will then be followed up with extended analyzes, with the ultimate goal of getting a functioning, clinical marker in practical use which already before surgery can guide the treating doctor to choose the right treatment. The goal of our projects is to find genetic abnormalities that partly explain the background to how malignant thyroid tumors arise, and partly to facilitate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this condition. The findings we make will also be tested on cell samples from the thyroid gland (which are routinely taken for pre-surgery investigation) to try to find these genetic abnormalities even before surgery. Thus, this research helps us identify high-risk tumors by correctly diagnosing before surgery, which would result in proper management and thus less time for vital radioactive iodine supplemental therapy.