Related Experiment Videos
RET/PTC rearrangement in thyroid tumors
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA. Yuri.Nikiforov@uc.edu
Endocrine Pathology
|July 13, 2002
Summary
RET/PTC rearrangement is the most common genetic alteration in thyroid papillary carcinomas, particularly in North America and in radiation-exposed individuals. Different RET/PTC types correlate with distinct tumor behaviors and clinical outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- RET/PTC rearrangement is the most frequent genetic alteration in papillary thyroid carcinomas.
- Its prevalence varies geographically and is higher in pediatric, young adult, and radiation-associated tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the role and implications of RET/PTC rearrangements in thyroid carcinomas.
- To discuss the association of specific RET/PTC types with tumor characteristics and clinical behavior.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on RET/PTC rearrangements in thyroid pathology.
- Analysis of prevalence data and correlation with tumor subtypes and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- RET/PTC rearrangements occur in approximately 35% of North American papillary thyroid carcinomas.
- RET/PTC1 and RET/PTC3 are the most common types (>90%), with distinct associations: RET/PTC1 with typical papillary growth and benign course, RET/PTC3 with solid variant and aggressive behavior.
- RET/PTC has been identified in hyalinizing trabecular adenomas, suggesting a link to papillary carcinoma.
Conclusions:
- RET/PTC rearrangements are key drivers in papillary thyroid carcinoma development and progression.
- Specific RET/PTC subtypes influence tumor behavior and clinical presentation.
- The presence of RET/PTC in certain benign-appearing lesions warrants further investigation into their potential malignant transformation.