ArticleEndocrine2026
RET germline mutations drive tumorigenesis but not tumor aggressiveness in MEN 2.
Article in Endocrine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Clinical Outcomes of the GermlineMedicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Pooled it
- RET p.Cys634-driven progression of hereditary vs. sporadic medullary thyroid cancer.Endocrine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeEarlier guidelines for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) imply that certain RET germline mutations cause more “aggressive” MEN 2 phenotypes, specifically more “aggressive” medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). This research aimed to evaluate tumor onset versus tumor invasion and metastasis in MEN 2.
methodsTumor onset (tumorigenesis) versus tumor invasion and metastasis (aggressiveness) were explored using Kaplan-Meier analyses and log-rank test stratified by RET category, index status, tumor entity (MTC, pheochromocytoma, primary hyperparathyroidism), and MTC progression (node metastases, extranodal growth, distant metastases).
resultsIncluded were 708 patients (222 index and 486 non-index patients) with germline mutations falling into the highest (55 carriers), high (249 carriers), intermediate (182 carriers) and low (222 carriers) RET category. Onset and penetrance of MTC, pheochromocytoma and primary hyperparathyroidism differed significantly between RET categories, with little difference between index and non-index patients. Only 1 (0.5%) of 210 pheochromocytomas and 0 of 34 parathyroid tumors were malignant. Node metastases were associated with 8.1–18.8 mm larger MTCs, taking significantly more time to develop. In index and non-index patients with node positive MTC, no appreciable lead time preceding the development of extranodal growth or distant metastases was noted in any RET category, implicating other causative factors than time or strength of the RET mutation.
conclusionRET germline mutations drive tumorigenesis but not tumor aggressiveness. This finding, warranting further research into the drivers of tumor invasion and metastasis, reenforces the need for early tumor detection and prompt surgical intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality in MEN 2.
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