ISSN:
1437-9813
Keywords:
RET
;
RET proto-oncogene
;
Hirschsprung's disease
;
Multiple endocrine neoplasia
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract RET gene alterations as disease-causative mutations have been demonstrated in five different disease entities: Hirschsprung's disease (HD); papillary thyroid carcinoma; and three types of inherited cancer syndromes: multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2A, MEN 213, and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma. RET is expressed during embryogenesis in a temporally and spatially regulated manner, and plays an important role in the normal development of a variety of cell lineages, particularly in the establishment of the enteric nervous system.RET mutations observed in patients with HD are scattered along the gene without any hot spots, and possess a loss-of-function effect.RET mutations are detected with a higher incidence among familial cases (50%) than sporadic cases (15%–20%), and are more closely associated with long-segment HD than short-segment disease. In contrast to HD mutations, missense mutations observed in MEN 2 syndromes occur at specific codons, and gene rearrangements are characteristic in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Both missense mutations and gene rearrangements act in a dominant fashion, and cause constitutive phosphorylation on the tyrosine of RET and highly enhance RET kinase activity, leading to transforming or oncogenic activity.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01194794
