Assessment of RET/PTC oncogene activation in thyroid nodules utilizing laser microdissection followed by nested RT-PCR

Methods Mol Biol. 2005:293:103-11. doi: 10.1385/1-59259-853-6:103.

Abstract

Single palpable nodules of the thyroid gland are common in clinical practice; the majority of such lesions are benign. However, noninvasive thyroid nodules that exhibit borderline morphological signs of papillary cancer represent a diagnostic challenge. Rearrangements of the RET oncogene have been proposed as a marker for papillary thyroid cancer. In this chapter, methods for the analysis of the RET oncogene in laser microdissected papillary thyroid cancer tissue are described.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / biosynthesis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Lasers*
  • Microdissection / methods*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thyroid Nodule / genetics*
  • Thyroid Nodule / metabolism
  • Thyroid Nodule / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
  • RET protein, human