Minireview: RET: normal and abnormal functions.
The RET gene encodes a single-pass transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase. RET is the oncogene that causes papillary thyroid carcinoma and medullary thyroid carcinoma. The latter may arise as a component of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 syndromes; germline mutations in RET are responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 inheritance. In this report we review data on the mechanisms leading to RET oncogenic conversion and on RET targeting as a strategy in thyroid cancer treatment.
Santoro
Massimo
M
Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, University Federico II c/o Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, Italy. masantor@unina.it
Melillo
Rosa Marina
RM
Carlomagno
Francesca
F
Vecchio
Giancarlo
G
Fusco
Alfredo
A
D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; C099282:RET protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases