The Tumor Suppressive Role of PATZ1 in Thyroid Cancer: A Matter of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

PATZ1 is a chromatin-regulating factor with emerging roles in stemness and cancer. It has been suggested to play a dual oncogene/tumor suppressor role depending on the cellular context, but its function in human tumor biology is still far to be completely elucidated. We have recently identified its tumor suppressive role in thyroid carcinogenesis, possibly through the association between PATZ1 and p53 to oppose epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cell migration. These are major processes in tumor progression, local invasion, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance and play a recognized role in the development of thyroid cancer, particularly anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, but many questions about how they are orchestrated remain opened. Elucidation of the mechanisms regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cell migration can suggest new candidates for antimetastatic drug development that could lead to more effective therapies for highly aggressive and lethal thyroid cancers.