The expression of 4 thyroid tissue-specific genes [Na(+)/I(-) symporter (NIS), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), thyroglobulin (Tg), TSH receptor (TSH-R)] as well as of the glucose transporter type 1 (Glut1) gene was analyzed in 90 human thyroid tissues. Messenger ribonucleic acids were extracted from 43 thyroid carcinomas (38 papillary and 5 follicular), 24 cold adenomas, 5 Graves' thyroid tissues, 8 toxic adenomas, and 5 hyperplastic thyroid tissues; 5 normal thyroid tissues were used as reference. A kinetic quantitative PCR method, based on the fluorescent TaqMan methodology and real-time measurement of fluorescence, was used. NIS expression was decreased in 40 of 43 thyroid carcinomas (10- to 1200-fold) and in 20 of 24 cold adenomas (2- to 700-fold); it was increased in toxic adenomas and Graves' thyroid tissues (up to 140-fold). TPO expression was decreased in thyroid carcinomas, but was normal in cold adenomas; it was increased in toxic adenomas and Graves' thyroid tissues. Tg expression was decreased in thyroid carcinomas, but was normal in the other tissues. TSH-R expression was normal in most tissues studied and was decreased in only some thyroid carcinomas. In thyroid cancer tissues, a positive relationship was found between the individual levels of expression of NIS, TPO, Tg and TSH-R. No relationship was found with the age of the patient. Higher tumor stages (stages >I vs stage I) were associated with lower expression of NIS (P = 0.03) and TPO (P < 0.01). Expression of the Glut1 gene was increased in 1 of 24 adenomas and in 8 of 43 thyroid carcinomas. In 6 thyroid carcinoma patients, (131)I uptake was studied in vivo; NIS expression was low in all samples; 3 patients with normal Glut-1 gene expression had (131)I uptake in metastases, whereas the other 3 patients with increased Glut-1 gene expression had no detectable 131I uptake. In conclusion, this study shows 1) a reduced expression of NIS gene in most hypofunctioning benign and malignant thyroid tumors; 2) a differential regulation of the expression of thyroid-specific genes; 3) an increased expression of Glut-1 gene in some malignant tumors that may suggest a role for glucose derivative tracers to detect in vivo thyroid cancer metastases by positron emission tomography scanning