Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:2.7.10.1 (ERK)
95,504 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Pheochromocytomas are tumors of the adrenal medulla originating in the chromaffin cells derived from the neural crest. Ten % of these tumors are associated with the familial cancer syndromes multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL), and rarely, neurofibromatosis type 1, in which germ-line mutations have been identified in RET, VHL, and NF1, respectively. In both the sporadic and familial form of pheochromocytoma, allelic loss at 1p, 3p, 17p, and 22q has been reported, yet the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors is largely unknown. Allelic loss at chromosome 1p has also been reported in other endocrine tumors, such as medullary thyroid cancer and tumors of the parathyroid gland, as well as in tumors of neural crest origin including neuroblastoma and malignant melanoma. In this study, we performed fine structure mapping of deletions at chromosome 1p in familial and sporadic pheochromocytomas to identify discrete regions likely housing tumor suppressor genes involved in the development of these tumors. Ten microsatellite markers spanning a region of approximately 70 cM (1pter to 1p34.3) were used to screen 20 pheochromocytomas from 19 unrelated patients for loss of heterozygosity (LOH). LOH was detected at five or more loci in 8 of 13 (61%) sporadic samples and at five or more loci in four of five (80%) tumor samples from patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. No LOH at 1p was detected in pheochromocytomas from two VHL patients. Analysis of the combined sporadic and familial tumor data suggested three possible regions of common somatic loss, designated as PC1 (D1S243 to D1S244), PC2 (D1S228 to D1S507), and PC3 (D1S507 toward the centromere). We propose that chromosome 1p may be the site of at least three putative tumor suppressor loci involved in the tumorigenesis of pheochromocytomas. At least one of these loci, PC2 spanning an interval of <3.8 cM, is likely to have a broader role in the development of endocrine malignancies.
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PMID:Sporadic and familial pheochromocytomas are associated with loss of at least two discrete intervals on chromosome 1p. 1115 10

Germline mutations in tumor suppressor genes, or less frequently oncogenes, have been identified in up to 19 familial cancer syndromes including Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial paraganglioma, familial adenomatous polyposis coli and breast and ovarian cancers. Multiple genes have been associated with some syndromes as approximately 26 genes have been linked to the development of these familial cancers. With this increased knowledge of the molecular determinants of familial cancer comes an equal expectation for efficient genetic screening programs. We have trialled denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) as a tool for rapid germline mutation scanning of genes implicated in three familial cancer syndromes -- Cowden syndrome (PTEN mutation), multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (RET mutation) and von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL mutation). Thirty-two mutations, including 21 in PTEN, 9 in RET plus a polymorphism, and 2 in VHL, were analyzed using the WAVE DNA fragment analysis system with 100% detection efficiency. In the case of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN, mutations were scattered along most of the gene. However, mutations in the RET proto-oncogene associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 were limited to specific clusters or "hot spots." The use of GC-clamped primers to scan for mutations scattered along PTEN exons was shown to greatly enhance the sensitivity of detection of mutant hetero- and homoduplex peaks at a single denaturation temperature compared to fragments generated using non--GC-clamped primers. Thus, when scanning tumor suppressor genes for germline mutation using dHPLC, the incorporation of appropriate GC-clamped primers will likely increase the efficiency of mutation detection.
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PMID:Rapid mutation scanning of genes associated with familial cancer syndromes using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography. 1149 17

RET/papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) oncogenes, generated by recombination of the tyrosine kinase-encoding domain of RET with different heterologous genes, are prevalent in papillary carcinomas of the thyroid. Point mutations of RET cause multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) familial cancer syndrome and are found in sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas. Here, we show that ZD6474, a low molecular weight tyrosine kinase inhibitor, blocks the enzymatic activity of RET-derived oncoproteins at a one-half maximal inhibitory concentration of 100 nM. ZD6474 blocked in vivo phosphorylation and signaling of the RET/PTC3 and RET/MEN2B oncoproteins and of an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-activated EGF-receptor/RET chimeric receptor. RET/PTC3-transformed cells-treated ZD6474 lost proliferative autonomy and showed morphological reversion. ZD6474 prevented the growth of two human PTC cell lines that carry spontaneous RET/PTC1 rearrangements. Finally, it blocked anchorage-independent growth of RET/PTC3-transformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts and the formation of tumors after injection of NIH-RET/PTC3 cells into nude mice. Thus, targeting RET oncogenes with ZD6474 might offer a potential treatment strategy for carcinomas sustaining oncogenic activation of RET.
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PMID:ZD6474, an orally available inhibitor of KDR tyrosine kinase activity, efficiently blocks oncogenic RET kinases. 1249 71

Multiple endocrine neoplasia Type 2 is a rare familial cancer syndrome transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner. It is characterized by the association of medullary thyroid carcinoma with pheochromocytoma and hyperparathyroidism. Medullary thyroid carcinoma, present in virtually all patients, is the principal cause of death. In 1993, germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene were identified as the underlying cause of the syndrome. Genetic screening of at-risk family members can now be performed with high specificity and sensitivity. The ability to determine gene carrier status at a preclinical stage is of great value as it allows early prophylactic thyroidectomy. The specific RET codon mutation correlates with clinical variants of the syndrome, age at onset and aggressiveness of medullary thyroid carcinoma. This review will focus on mutational spectrum, genotype-phenotype correlations and clinical decisions based on genetic information.
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PMID:Molecular diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia Type 2. 1462 4

Familial gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder associated with KIT germline mutations. In sporadic forms of the disease, somatic mutations target either KIT or PDGFRA genes. In a kindred in which 5 individuals had GIST, no germline mutation in KIT coding sequence has been detected. We hypothesized that the PDGFRA gene could be a predisposing gene in familial GIST. We sequenced PDGFRA exons 12 and 18 because several somatic mutations were identified within this region. We detected a germline PDGFRA missense mutation, 2675G > T, resulting in a tyrosine substitution for the highly conserved aspartic acid at codon 846. This mutation showed perfect cosegregation with the GIST phenotype among the 7 family members tested. Interestingly, PDGFRA Asp846 is homologous to codon 820, which is located in the KIT tyrosine kinase II domain. In a previous study, a KIT germline Asp820Tyr mutation was detected in a Japanese kindred in which 6 individuals had GIST. Transfection of a KIT820Tyr complementary DNA in nude mice was found to be tumorigenic confirming the oncogenic potential of this mutation. The present study shows that PDGFRA is a second familial GIST predisposing gene. These results indicate a further example of involvement of structurally related genes in familial cancer syndromes.
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PMID:PDGFRA germline mutation in a family with multiple cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. 1469 10

It has been thought that endocrine tumors occurred through interactions of multiple environments factors and a personal genetic factor. A normal somatic cell having an intrinsic function is able to obtain the character of a malignant cell by influence of many factors. Several percent of all tumors have obvious familial aggregation. These entity are called familial cancer. Familial cancer syndrome is well defined for colorectal cancer and breast cancer, but an endocrine neoplasia is the one, too. Ectopic hormone producing tumors are kinds of endocrine tumors, and have the characteristics, which they generate in many organs multicentrically. The phenomena suggest that the patient with these disorders may possess strong genetic predisposition. Among endocrine neoplasia, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), von Hippel-Lindau disease(VHL) are well defined genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance, and the reliable genes were previously identified as MEN1, RET, and VHL, respectively. At this opportunity, we interpret for these three disorders.
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PMID:[Familial tumor syndrome and ectopic hormone-producing tumors]. 1514 9

Dominant mutations in the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase lead to the familial cancer syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). Mammalian tissue culture studies suggest that RetMEN2 mutations significantly alter Ret-signaling properties, but the precise mechanisms by which RetMEN2 promotes tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. To determine the signal transduction pathways required for RetMEN2 activity, we analyzed analogous mutations in the Drosophila Ret ortholog dRet. Overexpressed dRetMEN2 isoforms targeted to the developing retina led to aberrant cell proliferation, inappropriate cell fate specification, and excessive Ras pathway activation. Genetic analysis indicated that dRetMEN2 acts through the Ras-ERK, Src, and Jun kinase pathways. A genetic screen for mutations that dominantly suppress or enhance dRetMEN2 phenotypes identified new genes that are required for the phenotypic outcomes of dRetMEN2 activity. Finally, we identified human orthologs for many of these genes and examined their status in human tumors. Two of these loci showed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) within both sporadic and MEN2-associated pheochromocytomas, suggesting that they may contribute to Ret-dependent oncogenesis.
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PMID:A Drosophila model of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. 1596 61

Deletions of the short arm of chromosome 3 are often observed in a specific subset of aggressive neuroblastomas (NBs) with loss of distal 11q and without MYCN amplification. The critical deleted region encompasses the locus of the von Hippel-Lindau gene (VHL, 3p25). Constitutional loss of function mutations in the VHL gene are responsible for the VHL syndrome, a dominantly inherited familial cancer syndrome predisposing to a variety of neoplasms, including pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytomas are, like NB, derived from neural crest cells, but, unlike NB, consist of more mature chromaffin cells instead of immature neuroblasts. Further arguments for a putative role of VHL in NB are its function as oxygen sensitizer and the reported relation between hypoxia and dedifferentiation of NB cells, leading to a more aggressive phenotype. To test the possible involvement of VHL in NB, we did mRNA expression analysis and sought evidence for VHL gene inactivation. Although no evidence for a classic tumor suppressor role for VHL in NB could be obtained, a strong correlation was observed between reduced levels of VHL mRNA and low patient survival probability (p=0.013). Furthermore, VHL appears to have predictive power in NTRK1 (TRKA) positive tumor samples with presumed favorable prognosis, which makes it a potentially valuable marker for more accurate risk assessment in this subgroup of patients. The significance of the reduced VHL expression levels in relation to NB tumor biology remains unexplained, as functional analysis demonstrated no clear effect of the reduction in VHL mRNA expression on protein stability of its downstream target hypoxia-inducible factor alpha.
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PMID:The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene expression level has prognostic value in neuroblastoma. 1650 18

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is a dominantly inherited familial cancer syndrome caused by mutations in the VHL tumour suppressor gene. VHL disease is characterised by marked phenotypic variability and the most common tumours are haemangioblastomas of the retina and central nervous system and clear cell renal cell carcinoma. However, endocrine tumours, most commonly phaeochromocytoma and non-secretory pancreatic islet cell cancers, demonstrate marked interfamilial variations in frequency and are significant causes of morbidity and, sometimes, mortality. Genotype-phenotype correlations have revealed that certain missense mutations are associated with a high risk of phaeochromocytoma but total loss of function mutations are associated with a low risk. Furthermore, rare mutations may predispose to a phaeochromocytoma-only phenotype. Germline VHL mutations may be detected in 5-11% of all phaeochromocytoma cases and mutation analysis of VHL and other phaeochromocytoma susceptibility genes (SDHB, SDHD and RET) should be performed in all cases of familial, multiple or early onset phaeochromocytomas, and considered in other cases. The VHL gene product has a key role in regulating the stability of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1 and HIF-2) such that inactivation of VHL leads to up-regulation of HIF-1 and HIF-2 protein expression and activation of hypoxic gene response pathways. Germline SDHB and SDHD mutations also lead to increased expression of HIF target genes, but it appears that phaeochromocytoma susceptibility in VHL disease cannot be attributed to HIF activation alone. Recently, it has been suggested that an HIF-independent failure of developmental apoptosis is a common feature of all inherited phaeochromocytoma susceptibility syndromes.
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PMID:Von Hippel-Lindau disease and endocrine tumour susceptibility. 1672 71

Recent advances of molecular genetics have made a noticeable impact in some areas of clinical medicine. Almost comprehensive understanding of the nature of hereditary tumors is frequently heralded as the most substantial practical achievement of molecular oncology. Proper diagnostic algorithms have already been developed for the vast majority of known familial cancer syndromes. Interestingly, an unexpectedly strong "founder" effect has been documented at least for some hereditary cancers occurring in Russia, that significantly simplifies the detection of the corresponding disease-associated gene variants. The number of tests aimed to customize cancer treatment continues to grow every year. EGFR mutation test appears to be the most impressive, as it allows to predict lung cancer response or non-response to gefitinib or erlotinib with indeed unique level of accuracy. The approaches helping to determine individual efficacy and safety profiles for fluoropyrimidines, platinum compounds, irinotecan etc. are currently under development Methods aiming to detect residual amounts of disseminated cancer cells represent another popular avenue of the research. It is expected that these technologies will improve the quality of prediction of local and distant metastases, facilitate monitoring of the minimal residual disease and, in the long perspective, provide the tool for early cancer diagnosis. One has to remember that the molecular detection of disseminated tumor cells is currently used mainly in research settings and is not yet incorporated into routine clinical practice.
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PMID:[Molecular diagnosis in oncology]. 1898 27


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