Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, PO Box 24923, Kuwait.
Exp Mol Pathol. 2011 Feb;90(1):61-5. doi: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2010.10.002. Epub 2010 Oct 13.
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is common in Kuwait. The activation of the RET oncogene by DNA rearrangement (RET/PTC) is known to have an important role in PTC carcinogenesis. However, the real frequency of the RET/PTC expression in PTC is variable between different studies. This study seeks to determine the prevalence of RET/PTC and to analyze the RET oncogene expression associated with PTC in Kuwait.
RET expression and DNA rearrangements (RET/PTC 1, RET/PTC 2 and RET/PTC 3) were studied by RT-PCR in different thyroid diseases. Results were confirmed by the Southern blot and by immunohistochemistry. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the level of RET mRNA expression in PTCs.
Wild-type (nonrearranged) c-RET oncogene was overexpressed in 60% of PTC cases and absent in follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), follicular adenomas (FA) or normal thyroid. No RET/PTC rearrangement was detected in any sample. The c-RET expression in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and multinodular goiter was limited to follicular cells with PTC-like nuclear changes.
The overexpression of wild-type c-RET is a characteristic molecular event of PTCs in Kuwait. The prevalence of RET/PTC is zero and among the lowest recorded in the world.
甲状腺乳头状癌（PTC）在科威特较为常见。DNA 重排激活 RET 癌基因（RET/PTC）被认为在 PTC 发生过程中起着重要作用。然而，不同研究中 RET/PTC 的表达率存在差异。本研究旨在确定 RET/PTC 的流行率，并分析科威特 PTC 中与 RET 癌基因相关的表达情况。
通过 RT-PCR 研究不同甲状腺疾病中 RET 表达和 DNA 重排（RET/PTC1、RET/PTC2 和 RET/PTC3）。结果通过 Southern blot 和免疫组化进行确认。采用定量实时 PCR 检测 PTC 中 RET mRNA 的表达水平。
野生型（非重排）c-RET 癌基因在 60%的 PTC 病例中过表达，而在滤泡状甲状腺癌（FTC）、间变性甲状腺癌（ATC）、滤泡性腺瘤（FA）或正常甲状腺中不存在。在任何样本中均未检测到 RET/PTC 重排。桥本甲状腺炎和结节性甲状腺肿中 c-RET 的表达仅限于具有 PTC 样核改变的滤泡细胞。
野生型 c-RET 的过表达是科威特 PTC 的一个特征性分子事件。RET/PTC 的流行率为零，是世界上记录最低的地区之一。
