Oncogene. 2006; 25:6637-6647.
Evaluation of potential mechanisms underlying genotype-phenotype correlations in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
Miše N, Drosten M, Racek T, Tannapfel A, Pützer BM.
Distinct dominant activating mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are responsible for the development of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2). Concise examination of the mutated codons led to the detection of a striking genotype-phenotype correlation between the mutated codon and the MEN 2 phenotype in terms of onset and aggressiveness of the disease, suggesting that manifestation and clinical progression is conditioned by the type of mutation. To gain insight into the molecular basis for this genotype-phenotype correlation, we analysed the impact of common and rare mutations identified in MEN 2A (C609Y, C634R), MEN 2B (A883F, M918T) and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (Y791F) patients on several aspects of cell transformation, including proliferation, apoptosis, anchorage-independent growth and signaling. We found that tumor cells arising from distinct extracellular or intracellular MEN 2 mutations clearly differ in their proliferation properties owing to the activation of different molecular pathways, but importantly, also in resistance to apoptosis. Whereas MEN 2A mutants resulted in accelerated cell proliferation, MEN 2B-RET mutants significantly enhanced suppression of apoptosis, which may account, at least partially, for some of the clinical differences in MEN 2 patients.

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Institut für Experimentelle Gentherapie und Tumorforschung
Core-Facility Virale Vektor & Genom-Editing Technologien
Biomedizinisches Forschungszentrum
Schillingallee 69
D-18057 Rostock
Sekretariat
Ingrid Winkler
(+49) 381 494-5066(+49) 381 494-5062
ingrid.winkler@med.uni-rostock.de
Department Leben, Licht & Materie
Forschungsbau LL&M
Albert-Einstein-Str. 25
D-18059 Rostock
Forschungsbau LL&M
Albert-Einstein-Str. 25
D-18059 Rostock