Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of the expression of the RET oncogene (rearranged during transfection) in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) and its variants in the differential diagnosis of thyroid neoplasias. According to the literature RET oncogene activation by chromosomal rearrangements has been exclusively implicated in PTCs. Methods: To establish the incidence of RET activation in PTCs we used 5- to 10-µm sections from archival paraffin blocks. Either parts of the tissue slices were manually dissected or a few distinct cells were microdissected by laser-mediated manipulation with the Robot-MicroBeam system. RNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded thyroid tumors and the corresponding normal tissue. RT and nested PCR were performed using primers for RET/PTC1, PTC2 and PTC3, or for RET exons 12 and 13. PCR products were resolved by gel electrophoresis. Results: We detected RET transcription in approximately 85% of the PTCs including follicular variants and in isolated cells of the same tissues, but not in nonmalignant thyroid tissue. Conclusions: Our method may serve as an additional diagnostic tool to characterize ambiguous neoplasias and to identify especially nonpapillary, i.e. follicular tumors, as papillary carcinomas. Additionally, this study has demonstrated that expressed genes can be analyzed from routine histopathological tissue slides or pooled single cells. Large retrospective studies can also be performed with this method.

Keywords:
RET/PTC1, Papillary thyroid carcinoma, Laser microdissection, RT-PCR, Laser microbeam microdissection, Laser pressure catapulting, Tissue, archival
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
2001
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.