Possible role of Sprouty-2 in Familial Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Pathogenesis

RET mutations are responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN2A and MEN2B) and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). Sprouty family proteins (SPRY/SPRED) are inhibitors of signalling mediated by tyrosine-kinase receptors. As SPRY genes inhibit Ras-ERK-MAPK signalling and many aberrations in this pathway are most epitomized by cancer, we have hypothesized a possible role of this protein family in MEN2 and FMTC pathogenesis