Thyroid Disorders: From Physiological Regulation to Targeted Cancer Therapy
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 663
Special Issue Editor
Interests: thyroid autoregulation and redox homeostasis, with particular emphasis on oxidative stress, iodolipid signaling, and iodine metabolism; the role of selenium in thyroid physiology and disease, as well as in the molecular mechanisms underlying thyroid cancer development and progression
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The thyroid gland is a highly specialized endocrine organ that regulates metabolism, growth, and tissue homeostasis through the synthesis and action of thyroid hormones. These functions depend on tightly controlled molecular mechanisms governing iodide uptake and metabolism, hormone biosynthesis, redox balance, and autoregulatory responses that allow the gland to adapt to physiological and environmental demands. Alterations in these regulatory processes not only underlie functional thyroid disorders but also contribute to thyroid tumorigenesis, disease progression, and therapeutic responsiveness. The disruption of these physiological regulatory networks represents a key mechanistic link between normal thyroid function and malignant transformation. In this context, while most differentiated thyroid cancers can be successfully managed with surgery and radioiodine therapy, a clinically relevant subset of tumors becomes refractory to radioiodine due to loss of differentiation, impaired iodide metabolism, and dysregulated redox and signaling pathways. Poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas remain associated with aggressive behavior and limited treatment options, underscoring the need for improved molecular stratification and innovative therapeutic approaches.
This Special Issue aims to provide an integrative platform with a primary focus on thyroid cancer and its treatment, while explicitly positioning thyroid physiology as a molecular framework shaping tumor biology and therapeutic response. We welcome contributions addressing oncogenic signaling pathways, tumor microenvironment and immune interactions, mechanisms of dedifferentiation and therapy resistance, as well as clinical and translational studies on targeted therapies, radionuclide treatments, and emerging therapeutic approaches. In particular, studies exploring the role of thyroid hormones, iodine metabolism, oxidative stress, and redox regulation in both normal thyroid biology and cancer development are especially encouraged, given their strong translational potential. By bridging basic, translational, and clinical research, this Special Issue seeks to advance the molecular understanding of thyroid cancer and to foster the development of more effective and personalized therapeutic strategies for patients with thyroid malignancies.
Dr. Lisa Thomasz
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- thyroid autoregulation
- oxidative stress
- iodide excess
- sodium-iodide symporter (NIS)
- thyroid cancer
- autoimmune thyroid disease
- thyroid tumor microenvironment
- dedifferentiation mechanisms
- targeted therapies
- radionuclide therapy
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