RET (Re-arranged during Transfection) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that is involved in several cellular activities. The dysregulation of these transmembrane RTKs is closely linked with cancer development and is of interest as a potential therapeutic target. Mutations in RET have been associated with cancers of the thyroid, lung, breast, and pancreas, as well as melanomas.
Abnormal cytosolic and nuclear translocations of cell to cell adhesion proteins, such as beta-catenin, have been reported in RET related cancers. These proteins may have potential to act as cancer biomarkers for RET point mutant and/or fused cancers. My project is aimed to find the biomarkers associated with cell adhesion regulation for cancers expressing RET mutations and to determine the mechanisms of these biomarkers interacting with mutant RET. In addition, my aim is to find potential mechanisms of action of RET kinase inhibitors that show change in expression and distribution on the cell adhesion biomarkers in relation to the RET mutations.