Diagnostic Tool for Diagnosing Benign Versus Malignant Thyroid Lesions
Description of Invention:
The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and staging of thyroid cancer. The invention employs analysis of gene expression using microarrays or quantitative RT-PCR to distinguish between malignant and benign tumors. Primer and probe sequences are described that represent a six gene or ten gene model for diagnosing benign and malignant thyroid cancer. Analysis of the expression of these genes in thyroid lesions taken from patients could be used for molecular classification of the lesions. As analysis of thyroid lesions by traditional means, such as fine needle biopsy with cytologic examination, can result in indeterminate results, the current invention may provide a superior method for molecular diagnoses of thyroid cancer.
Relevant Publication:
This research is described, in part, in Mazzanti et al., "Using gene expression profiling to differentiate benign versus malignant thyroid tumors," Cancer Res. 2004 Apr 15 64(8):2898-2903.
Licensing Status:
In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further development through collaborative research opportunities with the inventors.
Portfolios: Cancer
Cancer -Diagnostics-In Vitro-Other Cancer -Diagnostics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Mojdeh Bahar J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301)435-2950
Email: baharm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
