Point mutations of ras and Gs alpha subunit genes in thyroid tumors.
We studied 43 thyroid tumors including 5 adenomatous goiters, 7 follicular adenomas, 22 papillary carcinomas, and 9 medullary carcinomas with regard to the presence of point mutations in the genes of Gs alpha subunit (Gs alpha), Gi2 alpha subunit (Gi2 alpha), H-ras, K-ras, and N-ras by a polymerase chain reaction-direct sequencing method. An adenomatous goiter and a follicular adenoma showed double mutations at codon 227 and 231, and 4 papillary carcinomas showed mutation at codon 231 of the Gs alpha gene. An adenomatous goiter, a follicular adenoma, and a papillary carcinoma showed a missense mutation in codon 13 of the K-ras gene. There were no such missense mutations of these G-protein or ras genes in medullary carcinomas. These data indicate that the genetic events involved in the oncogenesis of parafollicular C-cells are different from those of thyroid follicular cells, in which missense mutations of Gs alpha and ras genes seem to play important roles in tumorigenesis.
Horie
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima.
Yokogoshi
Y
Y
Tsuyuguchi
M
M
Saito
S
S
D001483:Base Sequence; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins