Role of CDKN2C Copy Number in Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma.
The cyclin-dependent-kinase inhibitors (CDKN)/retinoblastoma (RB1) pathway has been implicated as having a role in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) tumorigenesis. CDKN2C loss has been associated with RET-mediated MTC in humans but with minimal phenotypic correlation provided. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between tumor RET mutation status, CDKN2C loss, and aggressiveness of MTC in a cohort of patients with sporadic disease.



Tumors from patients with sporadic MTC treated at a single institution were evaluated for somatic RETM918Tmutation and CDKN2C copy number loss. These variables were compared to patient demographics, pathology detail, clinical course, and disease-specific and overall survival.



Sixty-two MTC cases with an initial surgery date ranging from 1983 to 2009 met the inclusion criteria, of whom 36 (58%) were male. The median age at initial surgery was 53 years (range 22-81 years). The median tumor size was 30 mm (range 6-145 mm) with 29 (57%) possessing extrathyroidal extension. Nodal and/or distant metastasis at presentation was found in 47/60 (78%) and 12/61 (20%) patients, respectively. Median follow-up time was 10.5 years (range 1.1-27.8 years) for the censored observations. The presence of CDKN2C loss was associated with worse M stage and overall AJCC stage. Median overall survival of patients with versus without CDKN2C loss was 4.14 [confidence interval (CI) 1.93-NA] versus 18.27 [CI 17.24-NA] years (p < 0.0001). Median overall survival of patients with a combined somatic RETM918Tmutation and CDKN2C loss versus no somatic RETM918Tmutation and CDKN2C loss versus somatic RETM918Tmutation and CDKN2C 2N versus no somatic RETM918Tmutation and CDKN2C 2N was 2.38 [CI 1.67-NA] years versus 10.81 [CI 2.46-NA] versus 17.24 [CI 9.82-NA] versus not reached [CI 13.46-NA] years (p < 0.0001).



The detection of somatic CDKN2C loss is associated with the presence of distant metastasis at presentation as well decreased overall survival, a relationship enhanced by concomitant RETM918Tmutation. Further defining the genes involved in the progression of metastatic MTC will be an important step toward identifying pathways of disease progression and new therapeutic targets.
1 Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Elizabeth G
EG
Grubbs
2 Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Michelle D
MD
Williams
3 Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Paul
P
Scheet
3 Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Selina
S
Vattathil
1 Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Nancy D
ND
Perrier
1 Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Jeffrey E
JE
Lee
4 Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Robert F
RF
Gagel
4 Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Tao
T
Hai
5 Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Lei
L
Feng
4 Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Maria E
ME
Cabanillas
4 Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas.
Gilbert J
GJ
Cote
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D050763:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p18 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013781:Texas; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
C493971:CDKN2C protein, human; D050763:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p18; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; C099282:RET protein, human
CDKN2C; RET; Rb pathway; haploinsufficiency; medullary thyroid carcinoma