Studies on a pedigree of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A caused by RET proto-oncogene C634R mutation with G691S, R982C polymorphisms with review of literature

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and mutation of RET proto-oncogene in a pedigree with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A). Methods The clinical data of a proband and other 10 family members were collected, the genomic DNA of their peripheral blood were extracted, the overall exons of RET proto-oncogene were amplified by PCR , and the PCR products were then purified and direct DNA sequence analysis was performed. Results Different clinical features were found in three of the family members. Three missense mutations, C634R and G691S in exon 11 and R982C in exon 18, were detected in RET proto-oncogene. The three of family members had shown MEN2A related signs, and no such mutations were detected in the other family members. Conclusions Genetic screening set the diagnosis of MEN2A at the gene level, and help analyze the family members at risk. Patients in this case may show typical clinical manifestations of MEN2A, which indicates that C634R mutation combined with G691S and R982C polymorphisms lead to the increase of downstream signal activation of the RET protein as the single C634R mutation along does.