Zebrafish Thyroid Cancer Models

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine tumor and its most common symptom is a painless lump or swelling in the neck, and its incidence is rising at an alarming rate. The thyroid itself is composed of epithelial cells (thyroid cells), which form thyroid follicles and secrete thyroid hormone, and C cells, which are neuroendocrine-derived cells that reside in the follicular space and secrete calcitonin. Although epithelial thyroid cancer accounts for 95%-97% of human thyroid cancers, the cancer can arise from any cell type.

In the past, much of the work in new drug development has relied on the use of cell line models, with well-established human cell line models for each major thyroid cancer subtype. However, the limited availability of drugs that work well in these models suggests an urgent need to develop thyroid cancer models in vivo. Using zebrafish models to study thyroid anatomy and its changes following genetic manipulation has several advantages that overcome some of the technical limitations associated with the use of mammalian models. Unlike mammalian in utero development, zebrafish embryos develop externally and are optically transparent, allowing experimental manipulation and real-time observation throughout embryonic development. These properties, coupled with the availability of transgenic embryos expressing fluorescent reporter proteins in specific cell types, enable the visualization and study of organ development, including the thyroid.

Fig.1 Schematic illustration of zebrafish thyroid development.

Our Zebrafish Thyroid Cancer Models

Creative Biogene has developed a number of transgenic zebrafish models with fluorescent thyroid glands in which thyroid cells develop invasive carcinoma and disrupt thyroid follicular structure early in thyroid development, which can be used to study normal thyroid development and thyroid cancer development. Our model not only confirms the oncogenic potential of driver genes, but can also be used as a high-throughput screening system to identify new anti-thyroid cancer drugs, thereby pointing the way to the development of new therapeutics.

Advantages

• Easily observe tumorigenesis and tumor-inducing phenotypes in live animals
• mass mutagenesis
• High-throughput gene/drug screening
• Experimental manipulation and real-time observation throughout embryonic development

Creative Biogene is dedicated to providing new insights into the pathogenesis of thyroid cancer and helping advance the evaluation of novel anti-tumor drugs. If you would like to learn more about zebrafish models, please feel free to contact us.

References

1. Marelli F, Persani L. How zebrafish research has helped in understanding thyroid diseases. F1000Res. 2017, 6:2137. Published 2017 Dec 14.
2. Anelli V, et al. Oncogenic BRAF disrupts thyroid morphogenesis and function via twist expression. Elife. 2017, 6:e20728.
3. Porazzi P, et al. Thyroid gland development and function in the zebrafish model. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009, 312(1-2):14-23.

For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.