PMID: 8600671Jan 1, 1995Paper

Rudolf-Virchow-Preis 1995. The role of RET proto-oncogene mutation analysis in the diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) gene carriers and in the discrimination of sporadic and familial medullary thyroid carcinomas and pheochromocytomas

Verhandlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pathologie
P Komminoth

Abstract

The RET proto-oncogene codes for a receptor-type tyrosine-kinase with to date unknown ligand. Recently, germline point-mutations in RET cysteine codons of the extracellular cysteine-rich domain (encoded by exons 10 and 11) and in the tyrosine-kinase domain (encoded by exon 16) at codon 918, have been associated with the syndromes of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A, MEN type 2B and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). In our recent studies we have analyzed tumor and germline DNA extracted from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens of 45 patients and additional blood samples of 38 possible MEN 2 gene carriers for the presence of RET point mutations in exons 10 and 11 by non-radioactive single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (PCR-SSCP) and for exon 16 by heteroduplex gel electrophoresis. Mutational analysis was performed by fluorescence-based dideoxy terminator cycle sequencing of PCR-products with an automated DNA sequencer. Materials included 19 patients with MEN 2A associated tumors (13 medullary thyroid carcinomas, 6 pheochromocytomas), 3 patients with MEN 2B associated medullary thyroid carcinomas and 23 patients with clinically sporadic tumors (16 medullary thyroid carcinomas, 7 phenochr...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndromes

This feed focuses on a rare genetic condition called Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndromes, which are characterized by autoantibodies against multiple endocrine organs. This can lead to Type I Diabetes.