Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
10:37

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: August 27, 2013

RET signals through focal adhesion kinase in medullary thyroid cancer cells

Ganesh R Panta1, Fiemu Nwariaku, Lawrence T Kim

  • 1Surgical Service 112, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 4300 W. 7th Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.

Surgery
|January 20, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

RET proto-oncogene inhibition decreases focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation in medullary thyroid cancer cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic target. Further research is needed to clarify the direct interaction.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • The RET proto-oncogene plays a role in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).
  • Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation is observed in MTC cells.
  • A potential signaling link between RET and FAK exists in non-MTC cell types.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that RET inhibition decreases FAK phosphorylation in MTC cells.
  • To implicate a RET-FAK signaling pathway in MTC.

Main Methods:

  • Human MTC (TT) cells were treated with RET inhibitors or RET siRNA.
  • Immunoblotting was used to detect total protein.
  • FAK immunoprecipitation followed by antiphosphotyrosine immunoblotting detected phosphorylated FAK.

Main Results:

  • The RET inhibitor PP2 significantly reduced RET and FAK phosphorylation.
  • Imatinib mesylate inhibited FAK phosphorylation at high concentrations.
  • RET siRNA significantly decreased RET expression and FAK phosphorylation.

Conclusions:

  • RET signaling influences FAK in MTC cells, indicating a potential therapeutic pathway.
  • The precise nature of the RET-FAK interaction (direct or indirect) requires further elucidation.
  • RET inhibitors like PP2 may hold promise for MTC treatment.

More Related Videos

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer05:39

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Published on: February 3, 2023

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma07:01

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Published on: April 17, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases01:26

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

Receptor tyrosine kinases or RTKs are membrane-bound receptors that phosphorylate specific tyrosine on protein substrates. RTKs regulate cellular growth, differentiation, survival, and migration. They contain an extracellular ligand binding domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytosolic tail with intrinsic kinase activity. Several extracellular signaling molecules activate RTKs in one or more ways and relay the signal downstream. Ligands such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...