title: Analysis of the RET proto-oncogene in sporadic parathyroid adenomas.
abstract: Missense germline mutations of the RET proto-oncogene have recently been identified in the hereditary cancer syndromes MEN2A, MEN2B, and FMTC, all characterized by medullary carcinoma, but also including phaeochromocytoma in MEN2A and MEN2B and parathyroid disease in MEN2A. In addition, somatic RET proto-oncogene mutations have been identified in a subset of sporadic medullary carcinomas and phaeochromocytomas. This study investigated the possibility that RET plays a role in sporadic parathyroid neoplasia. Firstly, normal and neoplastic parathyroid tissues were screened for expression of the RET proto-oncogene, using an RT-PCR approach on autopsy material. Secondly, 20 archival parathyroid adenomas were screened for somatic mutations in the transmembrane region of RET, the region associated with germline mutations in MEN2A and hence parathyroid disease, using a PCR-solid phase direct sequencing approach. RET expression was identified in all the parathyroid tissues analysed. However, no mutations were identified in any of the 20 adenomas, suggesting either that other mechanisms of RET activation occur, such as translocation, or that RET plays a more minor role in the growth control of the parathyroid cells than in C cells or phaeochromocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, U.K.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carss
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics*; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006801:Humans; D018813:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila