Revisiting the genotype-phenotype correlation in children with medullary thyroid carcinoma: A report from the GPOH-MET registry.

BACKGROUND: Medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC) account for 3% to 5% of all thyroid cancers. In most cases, MTC is hereditary and occurs as part of the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A and 2B syndromes. There is a strong genotype-phenotype correlation associated with the respective RET mutations, making risk-adapted management possible. PROCEDURE: We report the prospectively collected data on children and adolescents of the multicenter nonrandomized German GPOH-MET registry. Children and adolescents with MTC and C-cell hyperplasia (CCH) were included. RESULTS: From 1997 to June 2019, a total of 57 patients with MTC and 17 with CCH were reported. In patients with MTC, median follow-up was five years (range, 0-19) and median age at diagnosis 10 years (range, 0-17). Overall survival and event-free survival (EFS) were 87% and 52%, respectively. In total 96.4% of patients were affected by MEN2 syndromes, which was in 37/42 MEN2A and 3/28 MEN2B (M918T mutation) inherited. EFS in MEN2A was 78%, and in MEN2B 38% (P < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, lymph node (LN) status and postoperatively elevated calcitonin were significant prognostic factors for EFS. Notably, modest-risk mutation carriers presented with MTC at a rather young age, without raised calcitonin, and LN metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of children carrying de novo RET M918T mutations by means of the characteristic phenotype is crucial to detect MTC at an early stage, which will be associated with improved survival. As calcitonin levels may be false-negative and modest-risk mutation carriers present with a variable phenotype, particular attention should be paid to these children.

Natural history, treatment, and long-term follow up of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B: an international, multicentre, retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B is a rare syndrome caused mainly by Met918Thr germline RET mutation, and characterised by medullary thyroid carcinoma, phaeochromocytoma, and extra-endocrine features. Data are scarce on the natural history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B. We aimed to advance understanding of the phenotype and natural history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B, to increase awareness and improve detection. METHODS: This study was a retrospective, multicentre, international study in patients carrying the Met918Thr RET variant with no age restrictions. The study was done with registry data from 48 centres globally. Data from patients followed-up from 1970 to 2016 were retrieved from May 1, 2016, to May 31, 2018. Our primary objectives were to determine overall survival, and medullary thyroid carcinoma-specific survival based on whether the patient had undergone early thyroidectomy before the age of 1 year. We also assessed remission of medullary thyroid carcinoma, incidence and treatment of phaeochromocytoma, and the penetrance of extra-endocrine features. FINDINGS: 345 patients were included, of whom 338 (98%) had a thyroidectomy. 71 patients (21%) of the total cohort died at a median age of 25 years (range <1-59). Thyroidectomy was done before the age of 1 year in 20 patients, which led to long-term remission (ie, undetectable calcitonin level) in 15 (83%) of 18 individuals (2 patients died of causes unrelated to medullary thyroid carcinoma). Medullary thyroid carcinoma-specific survival curves did not show any significant difference between patients who had thyroidectomy before or after 1 year (comparison of survival curves by log-rank test: p=0·2; hazard ratio 0·35; 95% CI 0.07-1.74). However, there was a significant difference in remission status between patients who underwent thyroidectomy before and after the age of 1 year (p<0·0001). There was a significant difference in remission status between patients who underwent thyroidectomy before and after the age of 1 year (p<0·0001). In the other 318 patients who underwent thyroidectomy after 1 year of age, biochemical and structural remission was obtained in 47 (15%) of 318 individuals. Bilateral phaeochromocytoma was diagnosed in 156 (50%) of 313 patients by 28 years of age. Adrenal-sparing surgery was done in 31 patients: three (10%) of 31 patients had long-term recurrence, while normal adrenal function was obtained in 16 (62%) patients. All patients with available data (n=287) had at least one extra-endocrine feature, including 106 (56%) of 190 patients showing marfanoid body habitus, mucosal neuromas, and gastrointestinal signs. INTERPRETATION: Thyroidectomy done at no later than 1 year of age is associated with a high probability of cure. The reality is that the majority of children with the syndrome will be diagnosed after this recommended age. Adrenal-sparing surgery is feasible in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B and affords a good chance for normal adrenal function. To improve the prognosis of such patients, it is imperative that every health-care provider be aware of the extra-endocrine signs and the natural history of this rare syndrome. The implications of this research include increasing awareness of the extra-endocrine symptoms and also recommendations for thyroidectomy before the age of 1 year. FUNDING: None.

Pheochromocytoma in Children and Adolescents With Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B.

Context: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B) is characterized by early-onset medullary thyroid cancer in virtually all cases and a 50% lifetime risk of pheochromocytoma (PHEO) development. The literature on PHEO in patients with MEN2B is limited with most data being reported from adult studies that primarily address MEN2A. Objective: The aim of the current study is to describe PHEO development in a cohort of pediatric patients with MEN2B. Design: Retrospective chart review of patients with MEN2B evaluated at the National Institutes of Health in the period between July 2007 and February 2018. Results: A total of 38 patients were identified (21 males and 17 females). Mean age at MEN2B diagnosis was 10.6 ± 3.9 years. Eight patients (21%) developed PHEO in the course of follow-up to date, all of whom were sporadic cases with the classic M918T RET mutation. PHEO was diagnosed based on biochemical and/or imaging screening studies in five patients, whereas three patients presented with symptoms of excess catecholamines. PHEO was diagnosed at a mean age 15.2 ± 4.6 (range, 10 to 25) years and 4.0 ± 3.3 years after MEN2B diagnosis. Only one patient was diagnosed with PHEO as the initial manifestation of MEN2B after she presented with hypertension and secondary amenorrhea. Conclusion: Undiagnosed PHEO can be associated with substantial morbidity. Current American Thyroid Association guidelines recommend PHEO screening starting at age 11 for the high-/highest risk group. The youngest patient diagnosed with PHEO in our cohort was an asymptomatic 10-year-old, suggesting that PHEO development may begin before the screening-recommended age of 11, though remains clinically undetectable and thus the current screening guidelines seem appropriate.

Long-Term Survivorship in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B Diagnosed Before and in the New Millennium.

Context: Recent long-term outcomes and survival data are lacking for patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B). Objectives: To analyze long-term MEN2B outcomes and define prognostic factors. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective comparative study of 75 patients with MEN2B from two German tertiary referral centers. Patients diagnosed and treated before and after 2000 were compared for demographic, biochemical, surgical, and outcome parameters. Intervention: Surgery. Main Outcome measure: Long-term survival. Results: We identified seven familial and 68 de novo cases of MEN2B; 61 exhibited the RET M918T genotype (2 others exhibited A883F and E768D/L790T mutations). Surgery was performed at a mean age of 16.4 ± 11.2 years. The tumor stages at diagnosis for 71 patients were stage I, 15%; stage II, 6%; stage III, 35%; and stage IV, 44%. The mean follow-up was 9.6 ± 9.0 years. The outcomes were 15 (20%) cured, 9 (12%) with minimal residual disease, 19 (25%) with metastatic disease, and 10 (13%) unknown. Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) caused 22 deaths (29%) 7.3 ± 6.2 years after diagnosis (mean age, 22.9 ± 10.7 years). The overall survival rates at 5, 10, and 20 years were 85%, 74%, and 58%, respectively. After 2000 (vs before 2000), significantly more patients had stage I and II (32% vs 11%) and more were cured (43% vs 20%), with a higher survival trend (P = 0.058). The only prognostic factor was tumor stage at diagnosis. Conclusions: Patients with MEN2B developed MTC at an early age with wide ranging aggressiveness, but the outcome was generally better after 2000 than before 2000.

Is the excess cardiovascular morbidity in pheochromocytoma related to blood pressure or to catecholamines?

BACKGROUND: It is generally accepted that pheochromocytoma is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. This is however not based on studies with an appropriate control group of patients with essential hypertension. AIM OF THE STUDY: We examined whether patients with pheochromocytoma have an excess cardiovascular morbidity as compared to hypertensive patients. METHODS: In a retrospective case-control study we reviewed the medical charts of 109 pheochromocytoma patients for cardiovascular events within 5 years prior to the diagnosis. These patients were matched to control patients with essential hypertension for gender and year of birth and diagnosis. Outcome variables were ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents, and transient ischemic attacks. Classical cardiovascular risk factors were also assessed. RESULTS: A significantly higher rate of patients with pheochromocytoma suffered a cardiovascular event (13.8%; 95% confidence interval: 7.9%-21.6%) as compared to hypertensive patients (1.1%, 95% confidence interval: 0.1%-3.9%) (P < .001). Blood pressure level was lower in pheochromocytoma patients (153/91 ± 35/15 mm Hg) than in hypertensive patients (170/103 ± 18/8 mm Hg) (P < .001), even after correction for use of antihypertensive medication (P < .02). The difference in event rates could not be attributed to differences in other cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Pheochromocytoma patients have a clearly higher rate of cardiovascular events than patients with essential hypertension. This cannot be attributed to differences in blood pressure or other cardiovascular risk factors. The most likely explanation for the excess event rate is the prolonged exposure to the toxic effects of tumoral catecholamines. These data underpin the importance of a timely diagnosis and treatment of pheochromocytoma.

RET oncogene in MEN2, MEN2B, MTC and other forms of thyroid cancer.

Hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is caused by specific autosomal dominant gain-of-function mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. Genotype-phenotype correlations exist that help predict the presence of other associated endocrine neoplasms as well as the timing of thyroid cancer development. MTC represents a promising model for targeted cancer therapy, as the oncogenic event responsible for initiating malignancy has been well characterized. The RET proto-oncogene has become the target for molecularly designed drug therapy. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting activated RET are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of patients with MTC. This review will provide a brief overview of MTC and the associated RET oncogenic mutations, and will summarize the therapies designed to strategically interfere with the pathologic activation of the RET oncogene.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma: nationwide Japanese survey of 634 cases in 1996 and 271 cases in 2002.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) occurs sporadically or as an inherited disease, with the latter occurring in the form of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A, MEN type 2B, or familial non-MEN medullary carcinoma (FMTC). MTC is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and is associated with germline mutations of the RET proto-oncogene. Genetic testing identifies carriers of the mutant gene and enables preventive thyroidectomy. A nationwide questionnaire-based survey was conducted in 1996 and again in 2002, and we report here the results of the two surveys that characterize the clinical course of the inherited form of MTC. The data show a higher rate of inherited MTC than previously described, although MEN2A was found to be the most common inherited form of MTC, the same as in earlier studies. The most important finding was the difference in method of detection of MTC between the two surveys. Since the discovery of the genetic association with the disease, genetic testing has become the diagnostic method of choice, replacing indicators such as neck mass and elevated non-stimulated serum calcitonin level. Genetic testing enables early detection of the disease, which provides patients with the possibility of better outcome.

[Hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma--genotype-phenotype characterization]. / Hereditäres medulläres Schilddrüsenkarzinom--Genotyp-Phänotyp Charakterisierung.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is caused by germline mutations of the RET proto-oncogene. A genotype - phenotype correlation has been established, showing clustering of mutations in exons 10 and 11 in classical MEN 2 A syndrome, in exon 16 codon 918 in MEN 2 B syndrome and in exons 13-15 in familial MTC. A line of evidence suggested that the development and the aggressiveness of MTC in the different cancer syndromes is variable. Aim of this study was to compare the phenotype of exon 13-15 mutations with that of exon 11 mutation and possibly draw therapeutical consequences. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared the phenotype of 47 patients with mutations in exon 13-15 with 66 patients with exon 11, codon 634 mutation, the classical MEN2A. Patients were further subdivided as index and screening patients. RESULTS: Mean age of 19 index patients with codon 790, 791, 804 or 891 mutation was significant higher compared with 18 index patients with codon 634 mutation (mean age at diagnosis 50+/-12 years; range 30-69 y vs mean age 31+/-9 years; range 17-49 y), tumor stage at operation was favourable (C-cell hyperplasia n = 1; stage I n = 8; II n = 3; III n = 2; IV n = 2; no operation n = 1; no information n = 2 vs stage I n = 3; stage II n = 6; stage III n = 4, no information n =5), cure rate was better (56 % vs 38 %) and the death rate was lower (n = 2 vs n = 4). In screening patients no differences concerning the age, tumor stage, cure and death rate between patients with exons 13-15 and codon 634 mutations were seen. CONCLUSIONS: MTC in patients with exon 790, 791, 804, 891 mutations displayed a late onset and an indolent course compared to codon 634 mutation, this has to be taken into account when recommending timing and extent of prophylactic surgery.

Malignant endocrine tumours in childhood and adolescence--results of a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Malignant endocrine tumours (MET) are rare neoplasms in childhood and data on such tumours are scarcely available. The aim of this retrospective study was to collect data over a period of 11 years (1984-1995) and to give the basis for a prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 180 departments of paediatrics, nuclear medicine and children's surgery were asked for reporting of patients with MET by a questionnaire. 35% of the departments answered (however, 75% of the paediatric departments). RESULTS: 96 children with MET were reported: 73 with thyroid cancer (50 papillary, 15 follicular, 7 medullar, 1 anaplastic; 1:1,9 boys to girls, both mean and median age 11 3/4 years), 12 with adrenocortical cancer and 11 with other malignant endocrine tumours. Metastases were found at diagnosis in 41 of 65 children with papillary or follicular carcinoma. 37 patients (pts.) are in first continuous complete remission (CCR), 4 in partial remission (PR) and in 24 (!) children the remission state or the outcome is not known. 6 of 7 children with medullary cancer have had metastases at diagnosis. 1 patient is in CCR, 1 patient is living in PR, 1 in relapse. 4 children are lost of follow up (lfu.). In sex-ratio no difference was found in 12 pts. suffering from adrenocortical cancer (mean age 5 1/4 years, median age 2 1/2 years). 11 tumours showed hormonal activity. 5 children disclosed metastases at diagnosis. All patients were treated by surgery, 6 received chemotherapy additionally. 4 children are living in CCR, 3 pts. in remission of unknown state, 4 died (all of them with metastases at diagnosis), 1 patient is lfu. The other MET reported: 8 carcinoids (7 x appendix, 1 x lung), 2 phaeochromocytomas, 1 islet cell cancer. 8 pts. are in CCR, 2 are lfu. The child with the islet cell carcinoma died. CONCLUSIONS: Since only 35% of the clinics answered this retrospective analysis cannot give any statement about the incidence of MET in children. As to the prognosis thyroid cancer seems to have a favourable prognosis in childhood and adolescence. In contrast, metastatic adrenocortical cancer is incurable in this age group. Carcinoids of the appendix can be treated curatively by appendectomy. To better understand the biology of MET in children and adolescence and to achieve a better prognosis for some types of these tumours, much more data are needed. For these reason a multicenter prospective therapy study for childhood MET seems to be necessary.

Relatively good prognosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B in Japanese: review of cases in Japan and analysis of genetic changes in tumors.

Since 1968, a total of 23 patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN 2B) have been identified in Japan. The mean age at diagnosis was 20.3 years (range, 6 to 39 years). All patients had neuromas and bumpy lips. All patients underwent thyroidectomy for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Ten of 23 patients had pheochromocytomas. One patient died of cerebral bleeding at the age of 43, 2 patients died of MTC at the age of 35 and 12. Five-, 10-, and 15-year survival rates were 100%, 92%, and 88%, respectively. The clinical course of MTC in MEN 2B in Japanese is not so aggressive when compared with about a 50% 10-year survival reported for Caucasians. Genetic analysis of 4 MTC and 1 pheochromocytoma from 4 patients with MEN 2B revealed no common changes in regard to loss of heterozygosity on 21 chromosomes or point mutations of the ras, Gs alpha, or p53 genes.