Related Experiment Videos

RET and neuroendocrine tumors

Yoshiki Murakumo1, Mayumi Jijiwa, Naoya Asai

  • 1Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan. murakumo@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Pituitary
|October 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

The RET proto-oncogene is vital for development and linked to diseases like MEN 2 and Hirschsprung's. Advances in understanding RET are improving neuroendocrine tumor management.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The RET proto-oncogene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase crucial for signaling pathways.
  • RET signaling is essential for neuronal and renal organogenesis.
  • Germline mutations in RET cause MEN 2 and Hirschsprung's disease; somatic rearrangements cause papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the progress in RET gene research from basic science to clinical applications.
  • To focus on the pathophysiology of neuroendocrine tumors related to RET.
  • To highlight the development of clinical guidelines for MEN 2 management based on RET status.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on RET proto-oncogene.
  • Analysis of gene targeting studies and clinical data.
  • Synthesis of information on molecular mechanisms and disease associations.

Main Results:

  • RET signaling is fundamental to organ development.
  • RET mutations and rearrangements are key drivers of specific cancers and developmental disorders.
  • Understanding RET pathophysiology has led to consensus-based clinical guidelines for MEN 2.

Conclusions:

  • RET gene research has significantly advanced our understanding of neuroendocrine tumors.
  • Clinical management of MEN 2 is increasingly guided by RET genetic status.
  • Further research into RET holds promise for improved diagnostics and therapeutics.

Related Concept Videos

The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists01:28

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy.  SP binds and activates these...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Treatment Resistent Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistent Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...