title: Identification of a novel point mutation in the RET gene (Ala883Thr), which is associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma phenotype only in homozygous condition.
abstract: The RET protooncogene mutations responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 are inherited as autosomic dominant traits. We describe here a novel germline homozygous mutation in exon 15 of the RET gene that determines an amino acid substitution (Ala->Thr) at codon 883. The index case was a 51-yr-old patient with an apparently sporadic form of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). RET gene mutations screening was performed in exons 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16 by automatic sequence analysis. An unexpected homozygous GCT->ACT point mutation was found at codon 883 in exon 15 and confirmed by restriction analysis (Alu I). The presence of the two chromosomes 10 was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis on lymphocytes. As expected on the basis of the homozygosity of the index case, the parents were consanguineous (second-degree cousins). Eight relatives were further investigated: the mother, two sisters, and the son were positive for heterozygous RET mutation. The mother (82 yr old) showed a nodular goiter but was negative both for basal and pentagastrin stimulated calcitonin. The young son (15 yr old) and the two sisters (63 and 58 yr old) did not show any clinical and/or biochemical sign of MTC. One brother (59 yr old) was negative both for RET mutation and clinical/biochemical examination. The other brother, 56 yr of age, was positive for both homozygous RET mutation and serum calcitonin. When operated, the histological examination of the thyroid showed the presence of MTC and C cell hyperplasia. In conclusion, we identified a new germline RET gene mutation during a routine RET gene screening of an apparently sporadic MTC case. This mutation showed a very low transforming activity as demonstrated by the absence of MTC phenotype in heterozygous subjects. The possibility that the homozygous gene carriers were indeed carrying a germline loss of heterozygosity was excluded by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for RET gene performed on lymphocytes derived from one homozygous patient. The analysis of several RET polymorphisms also confirmed the presence of two mutated alleles in MTC affected patients and both mutated and wild-type allele in heterozygous subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy. relisei@endoc.med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elisei
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cosci
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romei
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agate
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piampiani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miccoli
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basolo
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ugolini
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciampi
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nikiforov
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinchera
mesh_terms: D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000235:genetics*; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D017354:Point Mutation; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; C099282:RET protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases