Numerous biologic processes and such diseases as cancer depend on activation of tyrosine kinase receptors. The RET tyrosine kinase receptor was discovered two decades ago as a transforming gene and was subsequently implicated in the formation of papillary and medullary thyroid carcinoma. This article examines the data about the mechanism of activation of downstream signal transduction pathways by RET oncoproteins. Collectively, these findings have advanced the understanding of the processes underlying thyroid carcinoma formation.
aIstituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale del CNR “G.Salvatore”, Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università di Napoli Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
bDipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università di Napoli Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Corresponding author.
The authors apologize to the many colleagues whose work could not be cited because of space limitations. This study was supported by the Italian Association for Cancer Research.
ABSTRACT