title: Functional RET G691S polymorphism in cutaneous malignant melanoma.
abstract: RET proto-oncogene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase whose ligand is glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and its polymorphism at G691S juxtamembrane region (RETp) is a germline polymorphism. Cutaneous melanomas, particularly the desmoplastic subtype, are highly neurotropic; thus we sought to determine the frequency of RETp in cutaneous melanoma and its functional responsiveness to GDNF. RETp was assessed in 71 non-desmoplastic cutaneous melanomas (non-DMs) and 70 desmoplastic melanomas (DMs). Melanoma cell lines with RETp, RET wild type (RETwt), BRAF V600E mutation (BRAFmt) or BRAF wild type (BRAFwt) were assessed for functional activity. RETp frequency was significantly higher in DMs (61%) than in non-DMs (31%, P<0.001). BRAFmt was detected in only 11% of DMs. GDNF stimulation significantly amplified cell proliferation, migration and invasion in RETp, but not in RETwt melanoma cells. GDNF stimulation of RETp cell lines enhanced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt of the RET-RAS-RAF-ERK and RET-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathways, respectively. GDNF response of RETp cells in signal transduction and other functional studies were not affected by BRAFmt. The study demonstrates that RETp is frequently found in cutaneous melanoma, particularly desmoplastic subtypes, and responds to GDNF inducing events favorable for tumor progression.
authors: Department of Molecular Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Narita
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Tanemura
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Murali
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Scolyer
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Huang
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Arigami
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Yanagita
authors: K K
authors: KK
authors: Chong
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Thompson
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Morton
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Hoon
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C494987:GFRA1 protein, human; C494993:GFRA3 protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; C099282:RET protein, human; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases