VHL tumor suppressor as a novel potential candidate biomarker in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of endocrine cancer, with an increasing incidence worldwide. The treatment of PTC is currently the subject of clinical controversy, making it critically important to identify molecular markers that would help improve the risk stratification of PTC patients and optimize the therapeutic approach. The Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene has been implicated in tumorigenesis of various types of carcinoma and linked with their aggressive biological behavior. The role of VHL in the origin and development of PTC have only recently begun to be revealed. In this narrative review, we attempt to summarize the existing knowledge that implicates VHL in PTC pathogenesis and to outline its potential significance as a candidate molecular biomarker for the grouping of PTC patients into high and low risk groups.