RATIONALE: Finding genetic markers for thyroid cancer in a biopsy specimen may help doctors diagnose thyroid cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well genetic analysis works in diagnosing thyroid cancer in patients with thyroid nodules.
OBJECTIVES: * Evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers and mRNA expression analysis using fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy samples from patients with thyroid nodules. * Correlate the level of gene expression with the aggressiveness of differentiated thyroid cancer in FNA biopsy samples. OUTLINE: Patients undergo fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy as part of routine care. Additional thyroid tissue is collected during the biopsy for gene expression analysis. Patients who have already had a biopsy undergo FNA biopsy during thyroidectomy. Tissue samples will be examined for gene expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time quantitative PCR, and immunohistochemistry. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 400 patients will be accrued for this study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
400
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
San Francisco, California, United States
Diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers by mRNA expression analysis
Correlate levels of gene expression with the aggressiveness of differentiated thyroid cancer in FNA biopsy samples
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