Metabolomics signatures of a subset of RET variants according to their oncogenic risk level

Thyroid cancer cell metabolism: A glance into cell culture system-based metabolomics approaches

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system and the seventh most prevalent cancer in women worldwide. It is a complex and diverse disease characterized by heterogeneity, underscoring the importance of understanding the underlying metabolic alterations within tumor cells. Metabolomics technologies offer a powerful toolset to explore and identify endogenous and exogenous biochemical reaction products, providing crucial insights into the intricate metabolic pathways and processes within living cells. Metabolism plays a central role in cell function, making metabolomics a valuable reflection of a cell's phenotype. In the OMICs era, metabolomics analysis of cells brings numerous advantages over existing methods, propelling cell metabolomics as an emerging field with vast potential for investigating metabolic pathways and their perturbation in pathophysiological conditions. This review article aims to look into recent developments in applying metabolomics for characterizing and interpreting the cellular metabolome in thyroid cancer cell lines, exploring their unique metabolic characteristics. Understanding the metabolic alterations in tumor cells can lead to the identification of critical nodes in the metabolic network that could be targeted for therapeutic intervention.

RET Proto-Oncogene Variants in Patients with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma from the Mediterranean Basin: A Brief Report

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) is an autosomal dominant (AD) condition with very high penetrance and expressivity. It is characterized into three clinical entities recognized as MEN2A, MEN2B, and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). In both MEN2A and MEN2B, there is a manifestation of multicentric tumor formation in the major organs such as the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands where the RET proto-oncogene is expressed. The FMTC form differs from MEN2A and MEN2B, since medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is the only feature observed. In this present brief report, we demonstrate a collection of RET proto-oncogene genotype data from countries around the Mediterranean Basin with variable characteristics. As expected, a great extent of the Mediterranean RET proto-oncogene genotype data resemble the data reported globally. Most interestingly, higher frequencies are observed in the Mediterranean region for specific pathogenic RET variants as a result of local prevalence. The latter can be explained by founder effect phenomena. The Mediterranean epidemiological data that are presented herein are very important for domestic patients, their family members' evaluation, and ultimately their treatment.

MEN2-related pheochromocytoma: current state of knowledge, specific characteristics in MEN2B, and perspectives

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) is a rare hereditary syndrome due to mutations of the proto-oncogene REarranged during Transfection (RET), defined by the association of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in almost 100% cases, and pheochromocytoma in roughly 50% (primary hyperparathyroidism can be seen in 10-20% of patients with MEN2A). Early thyroidectomy and the efficacy of novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors modified the natural history of MTC, with possibilities of cure or long-term control. The second main compound, pheochromocytoma, is reported with a variable penetrance, from 10 to 80% cases, depending on the mutation of RET. Pheochromocytoma constitutes the main disease to screen in patients with RET mutations. Pheochromocytoma clinical and biochemical diagnosis, as well as the way to treat it are thus crucial. This review will thus focus on the epidemiological specificities of MEN2-related pheochromocytoma, the genotype/phenotype relationship, the modern imaging modalities necessary to confirm the diagnosis in this hereditary context, as well as the optimal management and the possibilities of adrenal sparing surgery. Additional information will include the natural history of MEN2B-pheochromocytoma, the rare cases of malignant pheochromocytoma, and the factors that could modify the penetrance between individuals carrying the same mutation, especially in the same family.