Germline founder variant c.1998delinsTTCT in the RET oncogene: a cohort study in 15 Belgian families

Abstract Objective The c.1998delinsTTCT variant in the RET gene (codon 666) is linked to medullary thyroid carcinoma in Belgium. We aimed to study the clinical phenotype and the age-dependent penetrance in predictive variant carriers. Design Retrospective study of index patients and predictive variant carriers, identified through familial cascade testing between 2001 and 2020. Results The total cohort comprised 119 patients: 15 index patients, 102 heterozygous, and 2 homozygous predictive variant carriers. Among heterozygous carriers, high suspicion of clinical disease was present in 25 patien... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Vuylsteke, Axelle
Hannes, Laurens
Brems, Hilde
Devis, Koen
Renard, Marleen
Uyttebroeck, Anne
Legius, Eric
Decallonne, Brigitte
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2023
Reihe/Periodikum: European Journal of Endocrinology ; volume 189, issue 3, page 402-408 ; ISSN 0804-4643 1479-683X
Verlag/Hrsg.: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Schlagwörter: Endocrinology / General Medicine / Diabetes and Metabolism
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-26497578
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvad126

Abstract Objective The c.1998delinsTTCT variant in the RET gene (codon 666) is linked to medullary thyroid carcinoma in Belgium. We aimed to study the clinical phenotype and the age-dependent penetrance in predictive variant carriers. Design Retrospective study of index patients and predictive variant carriers, identified through familial cascade testing between 2001 and 2020. Results The total cohort comprised 119 patients: 15 index patients, 102 heterozygous, and 2 homozygous predictive variant carriers. Among heterozygous carriers, high suspicion of clinical disease was present in 25 patients at initial evaluation and in 3 patients during follow-up. No high suspicion of clinical disease was observed during surveillance in 56 patients, and 18 patients did not proceed to screening for clinical disease. Compared to index patients, surgically treated heterozygous predictive variant carriers had a lower presurgical basal calcitonin, a lower disease stage, less need for adjuvant therapy, and higher chances of remission. In heterozygous carriers, median age at developing high suspicion of disease is 52 years (range 7-75), with a predicted penetrance of 62% (9% SE) at the age of 70 years. Two patients were identified with pheochromocytoma and 1 patient with primary hyperparathyroidism. The 2 homozygous predictive variant carriers presented with higher disease severity at first clinical evaluation. Conclusion The c.1998delinsTTCT variant in the RET gene is pathogenic and associated with a moderate risk for medullary thyroid carcinoma and rarely with other multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) manifestations. Active surveillance is a possible option in heterozygous gene carriers with a negative first clinical evaluation.