TY - JOUR
T1 - Highly prevalent genetic alterations in receptor tyrosine kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in anaplastic and follicular thyroid cancers
AU - Liu, Zhi
AU - Hou, Peng
AU - Ji, Meiju
AU - Guan, Haixia
AU - Studeman, Kimberly
AU - Jensen, Kirk
AU - Vasko, Vasily
AU - El-Naggar, Adel K.
AU - Xing, Michael Mingzhao
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was partly supported by American Cancer Society Grant RSG-05-199-01-CCE (to M.X.).
PY - 2008/8
Y1 - 2008/8
N2 - Context: Genetic alterations in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and MAPK pathways have not been fully defined in anaplastic and follicular thyroid cancers [anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), follicular thyroid cancer (FTC)]. Objective: The objective of the study was to explore a wide-range genetic basis for the involvement of these pathways in ATC. Design: We examined mutations and copy number gains of a large panel of genes in these pathways and corresponding phosphorylation of ERK (p-ERK) and Akt. Results: We found frequent copy gains of RTK genes, including EGFR, PDGFRα and -β, VEGFR1 and 2, KIT, and MET and in PIK3Ca, PIK3Cb, and PDK1 genes in the PI3K/Akt pathway. Mutations of Ras, PIK3Ca, PTEN, and BRAF genes and RET/PTC rearrangements were common, whereas mutations in PDK1, Akt1, Akt2, and RTK genes were uncommon in ATC. Overall, 46 of 48 ATC (95.8%) harbored at least one genetic alteration, and coexistence of two or more was seen in 37 of 48 ATC (77.1%). These genetic alterations were somewhat less common in FTC. Genetic alterations that could activate both the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways were found in 39 of 48 ATC (81.3%). RTK gene copy gains were preferentially associated with p-Akt, suggesting their dominant role in activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. The phosphorylation of Akt was far more common than p-ERK in FTC, and both were relatively common and often coexisted in ATC. Conclusions: Genetic alterations in the RTKs and PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways are extremely prevalent in ATC and FTC, providing a strong genetic basis for an extensive role of these signaling pathways and the development of therapies targeting these pathways for ATC and FTC, particularly the former.
AB - Context: Genetic alterations in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and MAPK pathways have not been fully defined in anaplastic and follicular thyroid cancers [anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), follicular thyroid cancer (FTC)]. Objective: The objective of the study was to explore a wide-range genetic basis for the involvement of these pathways in ATC. Design: We examined mutations and copy number gains of a large panel of genes in these pathways and corresponding phosphorylation of ERK (p-ERK) and Akt. Results: We found frequent copy gains of RTK genes, including EGFR, PDGFRα and -β, VEGFR1 and 2, KIT, and MET and in PIK3Ca, PIK3Cb, and PDK1 genes in the PI3K/Akt pathway. Mutations of Ras, PIK3Ca, PTEN, and BRAF genes and RET/PTC rearrangements were common, whereas mutations in PDK1, Akt1, Akt2, and RTK genes were uncommon in ATC. Overall, 46 of 48 ATC (95.8%) harbored at least one genetic alteration, and coexistence of two or more was seen in 37 of 48 ATC (77.1%). These genetic alterations were somewhat less common in FTC. Genetic alterations that could activate both the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways were found in 39 of 48 ATC (81.3%). RTK gene copy gains were preferentially associated with p-Akt, suggesting their dominant role in activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. The phosphorylation of Akt was far more common than p-ERK in FTC, and both were relatively common and often coexisted in ATC. Conclusions: Genetic alterations in the RTKs and PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways are extremely prevalent in ATC and FTC, providing a strong genetic basis for an extensive role of these signaling pathways and the development of therapies targeting these pathways for ATC and FTC, particularly the former.
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U2 - 10.1210/jc.2008-0273
DO - 10.1210/jc.2008-0273
M3 - Article
C2 - 18492751
AN - SCOPUS:49249127826
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 93
SP - 3106
EP - 3116
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 8
ER -