COMPOUNDS AND METHODS FOR TREATING CANCER

The present invention is based on the finding that inhibition of the expression of the PIAS2β protein results in specific inhibition of the proliferation of and the induction of death of cells of undifferentiated or poorly differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Therefore, inhibition of PIAS2β gives rise to a reduction in growth of carcinomas of this type. Furthermore, the inventors have surprisingly observed that the PIAS2β protein is less expressed in cells of undifferentiated or poorly differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland than in the cells of normal tissue or in the cells of differentiated papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.