Unidad de Tumores Endocrinos

Our group is interested in thyroid and ovarian tumor biology. We use different molecular strategies to unveil the role of molecules implicated in protein trafficking of a key molecule in thyroid physiology and thyroid cancer treatment, the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS). NIS is an essential molecule in the physiology of thyroid and other tissues. Radioiodine treatment through NIS in thyroid cancer is one of the most effective anti-tumor strategies known, and with the advantage of having minor side effects. Therefore, NIS has become an ideal tool in gene and cell therapy as a diagnosis and treatment tool. However, little is known about NIS trafficking to the plasma membrane (PM), where it is active. The TFM will be focused on the characterization of molecules involved in the trafficking of NIS to the PM in thyroid physiology and cancer. The final purpose of the project is to develop new markers for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.