Association between Germline Mutations in the RET Proto-Oncogene and Colorectal Cancer and Polyps

Abstract

The RET proto-oncogene is located on chromosome 10q11.2 and encodes a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase that has three unique isoforms [1]. Four ligands can bind and activate RET, leading to the aberrant activity of several signaling pathways including PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathway [2]. The aberrant expression of RET may function as an oncogene in certain solid tumor malignancies including papillary, medullary thyroid cancers and the multiple endocrine neoplasm type 2 (MEN2) syndrome [3,4].