RET/PTC, rearranged during transfection

RET/PTC is a chimeric gene resulting from fusion of the RET tyrosine kinase domain to one of some ten different genes. The RET gene rearrangement occurs almost exclusively in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. p53 mutations can modify the effect of RET/PTC in papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Immunohistochemical expression

Diagnostic utility

• Possibly of prognostic value in papillary thyroid carcinomas. Positivity was seen in 17/32 cases confined to the thyroid but 24/29 with extrathyroid extension at the time of diagnosis1.

References

1 Zafon C, Obiols G, Castellvi J, et al. Clinical significance of RET/PTC and p53 protein expression in sporadic papillary thyroid carcinoma. Histopathology 2007; 50:225-31

This page last revised 29.1.2007.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop