Study of Childhood thyroid cancer around Chernobyl in Belarus

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Thyroid cancer was the first solid tumor that demonstrated an increased incidence among the Japanese atomic bomb survivors. In recent studies conducted around the Chernobyl, an increasing incidence of childhood thyroid cancer has been reported. However, no studies have yet been able to answer the question on the casual relationship between the precise radiation exposure by the Chernobyl accident and the thyroid diseases. We, therefore, started to establish the data-collecting system and obtain the data from accurate and unbiased radiation-related childhood thyroid screening studies.Despite the difficult situation of Belarus, we have clarified the clinical and histological characteristics of childhood thyroid cancer on a basis of good relationship with the Belarussian Ministry of Hhealth and related Institutes. The establishment of fine-needle aspiration biopsy and cytological diagnosis revealed the malignant potential of thyroid nodules detected around Chernobyl. The role of p53 and TSH receptor has been investigated using a molecular biology method with a couple of new findings. The further study is, however, needed to clarify the direct evidence of radiation-induced thyroid diseases and the molecular mechanism of thyroid tumorigenesis.