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Biomedicines
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New Insights in Thyroid Cancer
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New Insights in Thyroid Cancer

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 1042

Editor

Dr. Rodis D. Paparodis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Hellenic Endocrine Network, 105 63 Athens, Greece
2. Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
3. Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL 60141, USA
Interests: autoimmunity; thyroid cancer; endocrine disruption; hashimoto's disease in thyroid carcinogenesis; endocrinology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, and its incidence has increased significantly worldwide in recent decades. While differentiated thyroid cancers—such as papillary and follicular carcinoma—typically have favorable prognoses, a subset of patients develop aggressive disease, recurrence, or distant metastasis. Poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas pose major clinical challenges due to limited treatment options and poor outcomes. In contrast, medullary thyroid carcinoma, which originates from parafollicular C cells, is characterized by distinct genetic and pathophysiological features, requiring specific diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Advances in molecular biology, genomics, and diagnostic imaging have significantly deepened our understanding of thyroid cancer development and progression. The identification of key genetic alterations—such as BRAF, RAS, RET/PTC, and TERT promoter mutations—has contributed to improved risk assessment and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. Molecular testing has also enhanced the diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration biopsies and informed clinical decision-making.

Recent years have seen the introduction of novel therapies, including multi-kinase inhibitors, selective RET inhibitors, and immunotherapeutic approaches, many of which are under clinical investigation or in use. The role of radioactive iodine therapy continues to evolve, especially in the management of radioiodine-refractory disease, with ongoing research into redifferentiation therapies and alternative systemic treatments.

However, important challenges remain. The increased detection of small, indolent thyroid tumors has prompted the re-evaluation of traditional management approaches and raised concerns regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The potential role of active surveillance for certain low-risk cases is being explored and continues to generate clinical discussion. In addition, long-term outcomes and follow-up strategies for patients with thyroid cancer require further investigation.

In this context, the upcoming Special Issue, “New Insights in Thyroid Cancer”, aims to present the latest findings and advances in thyroid cancer research from basic science to clinical application. We invite researchers and clinicians to submit contributions that explore new concepts in thyroid cancer diagnosis, treatment, and disease mechanisms.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Molecular and genetic mechanisms of thyroid tumorigenesis;
  • Novel biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment responses;
  • Advances in imaging and diagnostic techniques;
  • Targeted therapies and resistance mechanisms;
  • Immunotherapy and its role in thyroid cancer;
  • Active surveillance and individualized management strategies.

All manuscripts will be evaluated through peer review and published in a format that ensures broad visibility.

We welcome your contributions to this Special Issue. For submission details and deadlines, please refer to the journal’s website or contact the editorial office.

Dr. Rodis D. Paparodis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • thyroid carcinoma
  • molecular diagnostics
  • targeted therapy
  • genetic mutations
  • radioiodine therapy
  • radiofrequency ablation therapy
  • active surveillance
  • precision oncology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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11 pages, 488 KB  
Article
Prognostic Factors in Medullary Thyroid Cancer: A Real-World Study in a Referral Center
by Rosa Lauretta, Giulia Puliani, Irene Terrenato, Marta Bianchini, Marilda Mormando and Marialuisa Appetecchia
Biomedicines 2026, 14(7), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14071431 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026
Abstract
Background: Several factors have been reported to influence the prognosis of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). This study aimed to identify prognostic variables associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in a cohort of patients treated at our institution. Patients and [...] Read more.
Background: Several factors have been reported to influence the prognosis of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). This study aimed to identify prognostic variables associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in a cohort of patients treated at our institution. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 107 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed MTC who were followed for at least 12 months. Demographic, clinical, and pathological data were retrieved from medical records. The association between baseline variables and survival outcomes was evaluated using univariate Cox proportional hazards regression models. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 56 years (range, 10–80 years), and 63% of the patients were female. Germline REarranged during Transfection (RET) mutations were identified in 10% of cases. The median follow-up duration was 100 months (range, 12–464 months). At diagnosis, disease stages were distributed as follows: stage I, 52%; stage II, 12%; stage III, 17%; and stage IV, 19%. Female patients showed significantly longer PFS compared with males (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.41, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) (0.21–0.82); p = 0.012). Factors associated with PFS by Cox regression models were post-operative serum calcitonin (CT) values after 1 and 3 months of surgery (HR = 0.08, 95% CI (0.03–0.20); p < 0.001; HR = 0.03, 95% CI (0.01–0.11); p < 0.001, respectively), Tumor, Node, and Metastasis (TNM) stage III–IV (HR = 16.86, 95% CI (5.87–48.44); p < 0.001), presence of lymph nodes metastasis at diagnosis (HR = 9.6, 95% CI (3.59–25.63); p < 0.001), multifocal disease (HR = 2.37, 95% CI (1.07–5.28); p = 0.034) and capsular invasion (HR = 10.72, 95% CI (4.45–25.87); p < 0.001). Factors associated with OS by Cox regression models were age at diagnosis (HR = 1.07, 95% CI (1.01–1.12); p = 0.019) and TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours stage III-IV (HR = 6.69, 95% CI (1.42–31.62); p = 0.016). Although lymph node metastasis and capsular invasion were not significantly associated with overall survival (p = 0.178 and p = 0.094, respectively), both variables showed a trend toward an association with OS. Conclusions: The study confirmed that post-operative serum CT values, male sex, lymph nodes metastasis at diagnosis, TNM stage III and IV and capsular invasion were all associated with a lower PFS. Factors associated with OS were age at diagnosis, presence of lymph nodes metastasis, TNM stage III–IV and capsular invasion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Thyroid Cancer)
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Other

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13 pages, 1645 KB  
Systematic Review
An Uncommon Thyroid Tumor: The Diagnostic Challenge of Solitary Fibrous Tumors
by Rosa Lauretta, Giulia Puliani, Marta Bianchini, Marilda Mormando, Antonietta Fasciglione, Maria Flavia Bagaglini, Ferdinando Marandino and Marialuisa Appetecchia
Biomedicines 2026, 14(4), 803; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14040803 - 1 Apr 2026
Viewed by 634
Abstract
Background: Solitary fibrous tumors are uncommon fibroblastic neoplasms. These tumors are characterized by the recurrent NAB2-STAT6 gene fusion, which is a hallmark of solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs), particularly those arising in the thoracic cavity. While SFTs are mostly found in the abdomen [...] Read more.
Background: Solitary fibrous tumors are uncommon fibroblastic neoplasms. These tumors are characterized by the recurrent NAB2-STAT6 gene fusion, which is a hallmark of solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs), particularly those arising in the thoracic cavity. While SFTs are mostly found in the abdomen and pleura, they can occur in various locations, including the head and neck region (6% of cases of SFTs). Solitary fibrous tumors of the thyroid (SFTTs) are extremely rare, accounting for only 0.1% of all thyroid tumors. The gold standard imaging modality for thyroid tumors is ultrasonography, even though distinctive characteristics for these types of neoplasms are absent, making pre-operative diagnosis more challenging. Aim: The aim of this study is to perform a systematic literature review and to describe our case by analyzing the main clinical features, histological diagnostic features and treatments of this rare tumor, in order to clarify the behavior and molecular characteristics of SFTTs. Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines for SFTTs. We searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases for articles published up to November 2025. The inclusion criteria include confirmed diagnosis of SFTT, while articles describing unrelated neoplasms or articles that were not in English were excluded. A standardized form was used to extract information on the imaging characteristics, histological diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Results: As of 2025, a total of 43 articles were selected, with 61 reported cases of SFTT in the English literature. Pre-operative diagnosis of SFTT is controversial and usually requires immunohistochemical confirmation. In our case, molecular analysis identified, for the first time, a NAB2ex6–STAT6ex17 fusion, contributing to the molecular characterization of this rare tumor. Conclusions: SFTTs are rare and difficult to diagnose; thus, they require a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis and management. The combination of imaging, cytology, histopathology, and molecular testing is essential in distinguishing SFTTs from other thyroid malignancies. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment, and long-term follow-up is recommended due to the potential risk of recurrence or metastasis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Thyroid Cancer)
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