The importance of sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) for thyroid cancer management

The thyroid gland has the ability to uptake and concentrate iodide, which is a fundamental step in thyroid hormone biosynthesis. Radioiodine has been used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for several years. However, the studies related to the mechanisms of iodide transport were only possible aft...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia 2007-07, Vol.51 (5), p.672-682
Main Authors: Carvalho, Denise P, Ferreira, Andrea C F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular - metabolism
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular - therapy
Biological Transport
Carcinoma, Papillary - metabolism
Carcinoma, Papillary - therapy
Cloning, Molecular
Down-Regulation
ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
Gene Expression
Gene Transfer Techniques
Genetic Therapy
Humans
Iodides - metabolism
Iodine - metabolism
Iodine Radioisotopes - therapeutic use
Symporters - genetics
Symporters - metabolism
Thyroid Neoplasms - metabolism
Thyroid Neoplasms - therapy
Thyrotropin - physiology
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Summary:The thyroid gland has the ability to uptake and concentrate iodide, which is a fundamental step in thyroid hormone biosynthesis. Radioiodine has been used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for several years. However, the studies related to the mechanisms of iodide transport were only possible after the cloning of the gene that encodes the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS). The studies about the regulation of NIS expression and the possibility of gene therapy with the aim of transferring NIS gene to cells that normally do not express the symporter have also become possible. In the majority of hypofunctioning thyroid nodules, both benign and malignant, NIS gene expression is maintained, but NIS protein is retained in the intracellular compartment. The expression of NIS in non-thyroid tumoral cells in vivo has been possible through the transfer of NIS gene under the control of tissue-specific promoters. Apart from its therapeutic use, NIS has also been used for the localization of metastases by scintigraphy or PET-scan with 124I. In conclusion, NIS gene cloning led to an important development in the field of thyroid pathophysiology, and has also been fundamental to extend the use of radioiodine for the management of non-thyroid tumors.
ISSN:0004-2730
1677-9487
0004-2730
DOI:10.1590/S0004-27302007000500004