MIRNAS AS DIAGNOSTIC BIOMARKERS TO DISTINGUISH BENIGN FROM MALIGNANT THYROID TUMORS

1 - 219 . (canceled)

220 . A method of treating a patient with a malignant thyroid tumor, the method comprising:

a) amplifying nucleic molecules from a patient thyroid sample;

b) measuring the level of expression in the thyroid sample of a group of microRNA selected from the group consisting of: miRNAs: miR-375, miR-146b-5p, miR-204-5p, miR-7-5p, and miR-141-3p;

c) comparing the level of expression of each biomarker miRNA measured in a) to the level of expression of another biomarker miRNA measured in a),

wherein mir-375 is compared to the level of expression of miR-7-5p, miR-204-5p, or miR-141-3p, or

wherein miR-146b-5p is compared to the level of expression of miR-7-5p, miR-204-5p, or miR-141-3p;

c) calculating a diagnostic score implemented by a computer that indicates the probability that the thyroid sample is malignant, wherein the diagnostic score is based on one or more of the comparisons in b),

wherein the sample is identified as malignant if the probability indicates the thyroid sample is malignant; and

treating the patient identified to have a malignant thyroid sample by administering radioactive iodine, radiation, chemotherapy to the patient identified to have a malignant thyroid sample or performing a full or partial thyroidectomy on the patient identified to have a malignant thyroid sample.

221 . The method of claim 220 , wherein the thyroid sample is a cystic fluid sample.

222 . The method of claim 220 , wherein the thyroid sample is a fine need aspirate sample.

223 . The method of claim 220 , wherein the diagnostic score is calculated using weighted coefficients for each of the measured expression levels of biomarker miRNAs.

224 . The method of claim 220 , wherein the diagnostic score identifies the thyroid sample as malignant when the expression level of at least one measured miRNA is increased in a malignant thyroid sample relative to the expression level of a benign thyroid sample and the expression level of at least a second measured miRNA is decreased in a malignant thyroid sample relative to the expression level of a benign thyroid sample,

wherein the increased miRNA is miR-141-3p, miR-146b-5p, or miR-375 and the decreased miRNA is miR-7-5p or miR-205-5p.

225 . The method of claim 220 , further comprising generating a malignant data set and a benign data set using logistic regression model and fitting the diagnostic score into either the malignant data set or the benign data set, wherein the diagnostic score that fits in the malignant data set is identified as a malignant thyroid sample or the diagnostic score that fits in the benign data set is identified as a benign thyroid sample.

226 . The method of claim 220 , wherein the treating comprises administering radioactive iodine to the patient identified to have a malignant thyroid sample.

227 . The method of claim 220 , wherein the treating comprises administering radiation to the patient identified to have a malignant thyroid sample.

228 . The method of claim 220 , wherein the treating comprises administering chemotherapy to the patient identified to have a malignant thyroid sample.

229 . The method of claim 220 , wherein the treating comprises performing a partial thyroidectomy on the patient identified to have a malignant thyroid sample.

230 . The method of claim 220 , wherein the treating comprises performing a full thyroidectomy on the patient identified to have a malignant thyroid sample.

231 . A method of producing a labeled set of nucleic acid molecules, the method comprising:

a) amplifying nucleic molecules from a patient thyroid sample; and

b) labeling a group of microRNA molecules selected from the group consisting of: miRNAs: miR-375, miR-146b-5p, miR-204-5p, miR-7-5p, and miR-141-3p.

232 . The method of claim 231 , wherein the label is a fluorescent label.

234 . The method of claim 231 , wherein the amplifying step labels the group of microRNA.

235 . The method of claim 231 , wherein the amplifying step comprises contacting the sample with labeled primers.

236 . The method of claim 235 , wherein the labeled primers are fluorescent labeled primers.