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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism (Z.L., P.H., M.J., H.G., M.X.), Department of Pathology (K.S.), the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287; Department of Pediatrics (K.J., V.V.), Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814; and Department of Pathology (A.K.E.-N.), M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Michael Mingzhao Xing, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 East Monument Street, Suite 333, Baltimore, Maryland 21287. E-mail: mxing1{at}jhmi.edu.
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, PDGFR
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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