Polimorfismos genéticos del proto-oncogén RET asociados con la enfermedad de Hirschsprung en niños ecuatorianos / Genetic polymorphisms in the RET proto-oncogene associated with Hirschsprung's disease in Ecuadorian children

Contexto La enfermedad de Hirschsprung es un desorden congénito caracterizado por la ausencia de células ganglionares en una porción variable del tracto gastrointestinal. Está causada por defectos en la migración de las células del sistema nervioso entérico durante el desarrollo embrionario. Actualmente se sabe el proto-oncogén RET es el principal gen involucrado en la patogénesis de Hirschsprung. Objetivo Determinar la asociación entre los polimorfismos de nucleótido simple (SNP) presentes en los exones 2, 7 y 15 e intrón 1 del gen RET y la enfermedad de Hirschsprung en niños ecuatorianos. Diseño Estudio caso-control. Lugar y sujetos 41 casos con enfermedad de Hirschsprung y 41 controles procedentes del Hospital Pediátrico Baca Ortiz de la ciudad de Quito y del Hospital de Machachi (Área de Salud N° 16). Mediciones principales Análisis de los polimorfismos de nucleótido simple en los exones 2, 7, 15 e intrón 1 del gen RET, mediante las técnicas PCR-RFLP y secuenciación directa. Resultados El polimorfismo A45A (c135 G>A, exón 2) se asoció significativamente con la enfermedad de Hirschsprung (OR=11.2; IC95%=1.61­78.5; p=0.02). Los polimorfismos A432A (c1296G>A, exón 7) y S904S (c2712C>G, exón 15) mostraron tendencias sugestivas de un papel protector en la patogénesis de la enfermedad (OR=0.05; IC95%=0.01­0.25 y OR=0.13; IC95%=0.01­1.28, respectivamente). No se observó una asociación con el polimorfismo IVS1+1813 C>T (OR=4.16; IC95%=0.88­19.5). Conclusión Los polimorfismos estudiados del proto-oncogén RET desempeñan un papel importante en la etiología de la enfermedad de Hirschsprung en la población ecuatoriana.

Context Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital disorder characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in a variable portion of the gastrointestinal tract. It´s caused by defects in the migration of cells of the enteric nervous system during embryonic development. Nowadays the RET proto-oncogene is recognized as a major gene involved in the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung. Objective To determine the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of the RET gene and Hirschsprung's disease in Ecuadorian children. Design Case control study. Subjects and setting 41 cases with Hirschsprung's disease and 41 controls from Children's Hospital "Baca Ortiz" and Hospital Machachi. Main measurements Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in exons 2, 7, 15 and intron 1 of the RET gene by PCR-RFLP techniques and direct sequencing. Results A45A polymorphism (C135 G> A, exon 2) was significantly associated with Hirschsprung´s disease (OR=11.2; 95%CI=1.61­78.5; p=0.02). Polymorphism A432A (c1296G>A, exon 7) and S904S (c2712C>G, exon 15) showed trends of a protective role in the pathogenesis of the disease (OR= 0.05; 95%CI=0.01­0.25 and OR=0.13; 95%CI=0.01­1.28, respectively). There was no association with polymorphism IVS1 +1813 C>T (OR=4.16; 95%CI=0.88­19.5). Conclusion The studied polymorphisms confirm that the RET proto-oncogene plays an important role in the etiology of Hirschsprung in the Ecuadorian population.

Cáncer medular de tiroides esporádico de curso agresivo, en un adolescente varón / Madullary thyroid cancer in a 14 years old male: case report

Medullary thyroid cancer can appear sporadically or as part of a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A or 2B. In both conditions, it is associated with mutations of proto oncogene RET (rearranged during transfection). We report a 14 years old male presenting with a bone lesion in the skull followed by a hard cevical mass. A CAT scan showed an invasive thyroid nodule with involvement of regional lymph nodes , osteolytic lesions in skull, spine and ribs and liver metastases. Serum calcitonin was markedly elevated (9752 pg/ml, normal below 14 pg/ml). Fine needle biopsy showed a medullary thyroid carcinoma and the patient was subjected to a total thyroidectomy and radical cervical dissection. In the postoperative period the patient required calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Serum calcitonin 15 days after surgery was 11.692 pg/ml. Palliative radiotherapy was indicated for spine pain. A percutaneous gastrostomy was indication for nutritional support. The molecular study did not detect mutations of RET gene between exons 10 and 16.