According to data, next-generation sequencing analyses of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma may elucidate the biological underpinnings and clinical behavior of an increasingly common disease. The data was presented at the 82nd ATA Annual Meeting in Québec City, Québec, Canada.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma, most common type of thyroid cancer, is the fastest growing cancer type in the United States and many other countries. The increase in incidence is largely attribute to a rise in the number of cases of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is believed to behave in a clinical manner similar to usual or classical papillary cancer, but can be aggressive.RAS mutations are present in approximately 40% of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinomas, but little else is know about other mutations associated with the disease.

"A lack of understanding of molecular drivers of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma greatly limits the ability to investigate reasons behind its increased incidence and hampers the development of more individualized management of patients," said Elizabeth Pearce, MD, of the Boston Medical Center and Program Co-Chair of the ATA annual meeting. "These new data suggest that novel genetic tools may shed new light in this important research area."