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Research Interests:
Dr. Nikiforov's research efforts are focused on studies of molecular genetics of thyroid tumors and understanding the mechanisms of radiation-induced carcinogenesis and chromosomal rearrangements in cancer cells. Specifically, the efforts of his lab in the THYROID CANCER area are directed towards the identification of novel mutations in various types of thyroid cancer, development of molecular tests applicable to cancer diagnosis in thyroid FNA samples, and finding correlations between specific mutations and tumor behavior. Another direction, centered on the mechanisms of RADIATION-INDUCED CARCINOGENESIS, includes studies of the role of nuclear architecture and interphase proximity between genetic loci in predisposition to chromosomal rearrangements after radiation exposure, dissecting the molecular mechanism of DNA damage and repair after radiation exposure, and studying genetic predisposition to radiation-induced carcinogenesis.
Selected Publications:
Ciampi R, Knauf JA, Kerler R, Gandhi M, Zhu Z, Nikiforova MN, Rabes HM, Fagin JA, Nikiforov YE. Oncogenic AKAP9-BRAF fusion is a novel mechanism of MAPK pathway activation in thyroid cancer. J Clin Invest. 2005,115: 94-101. (subject of Commentary by Fusco A, et al. A new mechanism of BRAF activation in human thyroid papillary carcinomas. J Clin Invest. 2005, 115:20-23.)
Christy M. Caudill CM, Zhu Z, Ciampi R, Stringer JR, Nikiforov YE. Dose-dependent generation of RET/PTC in human thyroid cells after in vitro exposure to -radiation: A model of carcinogenic chromosomal rearrangement induced by ionizing radiation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005,90:2364-2369.
Nikiforova MN, Groen P, Mutema G, Nikiforov YE, Witte D. Detection of SYT-SSX Rearrangements in Synovial Sarcomas by Real-Time One-Step RT-PCR. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2005, 8:162-167.
Ciampi R, Knauf JA, Rabes HM, Fagin JA, Nikiforov YE. BRAF Kinase Activation via Chromosomal Rearrangement in Radiation-Induced and Sporadic Thyroid Cancer. Cell Cycle 2005, 4:547-548.
Salvatore G, Chiappetta G, Nikiforov YE, Decaussin-Petrucci M, Fusco A, Carney JA, Santoro M. Molecular profile of hyalinizing trabecular tumours of the thyroid: High prevalence of RET/PTC rearrangements and absence of B-raf and N-ras point mutations. Eur J Cancer 2005, 41:816-821.
Knauf JA, Ma X, Smith EP, Zhang L, Mitsutake N, Liao XH, Refetoff S, Nikiforov YE, Fagin JA. Targeted expression of BRAFV600E in thyroid cells of transgenic mice results in papillary thyroid cancers that undergo dedifferentiation. Cancer Res 2005, 65: 4238-45.
Giordano TJ, Kuick R, Thomas DG, Misek DE, Vinco M, Sanders D, Zhu Z, Ciampi R, Roh M, Shedden K, Gauger P, Doherty G, Thompson NW, Hanash S, Koenig RJ, Nikiforov YE. Molecular classification of papillary thyroid carcinoma: Distinct BRAF, RAS, and RET/PTC mutation-specific gene expression profiles discovered by DNA microarray analysis. Oncogene 2005,24:6646-6656.
Adeniran AJ, Zhu Z, Gandhi M, Steward DL, Fidler JP, Giordano TJ, Biddinger PW, Nikiforov YE. Correlation between genetic alterations and microscopic features, clinical anifestations, and prognostic characteristics of thyroid papillary carcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol (in press).
Ciampi R, Zhu Z, Nikiforov YE. BRAF copy number gains in thyroid tumors detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Endocrine Pathology 2005, 16:99-106.
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