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Gene

RET

ret proto-oncogene

Summary

Cytogenetic location
10q11.21
Coordinates
Chromosome 10: 43,077,069–43,130,351 (GRCh38)
Exons
20 exons across 53.3 kb
Protein
1,114 amino acids
Inheritance
Autosomal dominant
Also known as
PTC, CDHF12, RET51, CDHR16
Previous symbols
HSCR1, MEN2A, MTC1, MEN2B
MANE Select transcript
ENST00000355710.8NM_020975.6
Locus type
gene with protein product
  • Very high
  • Confident
  • Low
  • Very low

Reference genomeGRCh38

Positions on gene and variant pages follow this choice, in this browser.

Curated reports relevant to this gene

  • Hereditary Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

    • Hereditary pheochromocytomaAutosomal dominant

      Inherited susceptibility to catecholamine-producing tumours of the adrenal medulla.

      • 1 GenCC submitter rates it definitive or strong
      What knowing changes

      Biochemical screening and imaging allow tumours to be found and removed early.

  • Hirschsprung Disease & Related Enteric Neurocristopathies

    • Hirschsprung disease, genetic susceptibilityAutosomal dominant

      Inherited variants in genes such as RET, EDNRB, EDN3 and GDNF that raise the chance of Hirschsprung disease, with incomplete and sex-dependent penetrance.

      • 1 GenCC submitter rates it definitive or strong
      What knowing changes

      Family members can be offered counselling about recurrence risk and awareness of early bowel symptoms in infants.

  • Malignant Endocrine Neoplasm

    • Multiple Endocrine NeoplasiaAutosomal dominant

      Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) is a group of rare inherited cancer syndromes characterized by the development of two or more endocrine gland tumors, sometimes with tumor development in other tissues or organs.

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 3 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list

    • A malignant neoplasm affecting the endocrine glands. Representative examples include thyroid gland carcinoma, parathyroid gland carcinoma, pituitary gland carcinoma, and adrenal cortex carcinoma.

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 3 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list

  • Thyroid Cancer

    • Thyroid Tumor

      A benign or malignant neoplasm affecting the thyroid gland.

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 3 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list

    • A malignant neoplasm involving the thyroid gland

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 3 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Thyroid Gland Carcinoma

      A carcinoma arising from the thyroid gland. It is usually an adenocarcinoma and includes the following main subtypes: follicular, papillary, medullary, poorly differentiated, and anaplastic.

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 3 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Thyroid Gland Adenocarcinoma

      An adenocarcinoma arising from the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. According to the degree of differentiation, it is classified either as differentiated carcinoma (extensive evidence of follicular cell differentiation), or poorly differentiated carcinoma (limited evidence of follicular cell differentiation).

      • 1 GenCC submitter rates it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2Autosomal dominant

      Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) is a multiple endocrine neoplasia, a polyglandular cancer syndrome characterized by the occurrence of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pheochromocytoma (PCC), in one variant, primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). There are three forms: MEN2A, MEN2B, and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC).

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 3 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

      Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), also known as papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma, is a slow-growing malignancy usually presenting in adults as an asymptomatic thyroid mass.

      • 1 GenCC submitter rates it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Thyroid Gland Follicular Carcinoma

      A differentiated adenocarcinoma arising from the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. The nuclear features which characterize the thyroid gland papillary carcinoma are absent. Radiation exposure is a risk factor and it comprises approximately 10% to 15% of thyroid cancers. Clinically, it usually presents as a solitary mass in the thyroid gland. It is generally unifocal and thickly encapsulated and shows invasion of the capsule or the vessels. Diagnostic procedures include thyroid ultrasound and fine needle biopsy.

      • 1 GenCC submitter rates it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2bAutosomal dominant

      Multiple endocrine neoplasia 2B (MEN2B) syndrome is a rare aggressive form of MEN2 characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pheochromocytoma, mucosal ganglioneuroma, and marfanoid habitus.

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 3 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Familial Medullary Thyroid CarcinomaAutosomal dominant

      An instance of thyroid medullary carcinoma that is caused by an inherited modification of the individual's genome.

      • 1 GenCC submitter rates it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2aAutosomal dominant

      Multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A (MEN2A) syndrome is a form of MEN2 characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in combination with pheochromocytoma and primary mild hyperparathyroidism resulting from hyperplasia or adenoma of the parathyroid cells.

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 2 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Medullary Thyroid Gland Carcinoma

      A neuroendocrine carcinoma arising from the C-cells of the thyroid gland. It is closely associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes. Approximately 10% to 20% of medullary thyroid carcinomas are familial. Patients usually present with a thyroid nodule that is painless and firm. In the majority of cases nodal involvement is present at diagnosis. Surgery is the preferred treatment for both primary lesions and recurrences. This carcinoma is generally not very sensitive to radiation and almost unresponsive to chemotherapy.

      • 1 GenCC submitter rates it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list
    • Thyroid Gland Disorder

      A disease involving the thyroid gland.

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 3 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list

  • Urinary and Renal System Tumour

    • Urinary System Neoplasm

      A benign or malignant, primary or metastatic neoplasm involving the urinary system.

      • ClinGen rates the link definitive
      • 3 GenCC submitters rate it definitive or strong
      • On the ACMG secondary findings list

Inheritance

Autosomal dominant
One changed copy, from either parent, is enough. A parent who has one passes it on to each child with a one-in-two chance.

How RET is laid out

  • Coding sequence
  • Untranslated region
  • Intron
  • Direction of transcription
  • Known disease-causing sites
  • Stretches short reads find hard
  • Variants with a page
Chromosome 10, with a bracket where RET sits. RET and 8 genes near it on chromosome 10, from 42,603,710 to 43,603,709.Chromosome 1010q11.21p15.3p15.2p15.1p14p13p12.33p12.32p12.31p12.2p12.1p11.23p11.22p11.21p11.1q11.1q11.21q11.22q11.23q21.1q21.2q21.3q22.1q22.2q22.3q23.1q23.2q23.31q23.32q23.33q24.1q24.2q24.31q24.32q24.33q25.1q25.2q25.3q26.11q26.12q26.13q26.2q26.342.8 Mb43 Mb43.2 Mb43.4 Mb43.6 MbZNF33B: 42,572,956–42,638,863, reverse strandZNF33BBMS1: 42,782,636–42,834,937, forward strandBMS1RET: 43,077,069–43,130,351, forward strandRETCSGALNACT2: 43,137,831–43,185,359, forward strandCSGALNACT2RASGEF1A: 43,194,533–43,267,082, reverse strandRASGEF1AFXYD4: 43,371,635–43,376,335, forward strandFXYD4HNRNPF: 43,385,206–43,437,095, reverse strandHNRNPFZNF487: 43,436,830–43,483,181, forward strandZNF487ZNF239: 43,552,197–43,574,623, reverse strandZNF239Diagram of RET: 20 exons on the forward strand of chromosome 10Exon 1: 3 known disease-causing sitesExon 2: 9 known disease-causing sitesExon 3: 2 known disease-causing sitesExon 4: 7 known disease-causing sitesExon 5: 6 known disease-causing sitesExon 6: 4 known disease-causing sitesExon 7: 7 known disease-causing sitesExon 8: 3 known disease-causing sitesExon 9: 3 known disease-causing sitesExon 10: 14 known disease-causing sitesExon 11: 13 known disease-causing sitesExon 13: 3 known disease-causing sitesExon 14: 3 known disease-causing sitesExon 15: 9 known disease-causing sitesExon 16: 3 known disease-causing sitesExon 17: 4 known disease-causing sitesExon 18: 1 known disease-causing siteExon 19: 4 known disease-causing sitesExon 20: 1 known disease-causing siteExon 1: 43,077,069–43,077,331, 263 basesExon 2: 43,100,459–43,100,722, 264 basesExon 3: 43,102,342–43,102,629, 288 basesExon 4: 43,104,952–43,105,193, 242 basesExon 5: 43,106,376–43,106,571, 196 bases. 1 variant with a page in exon 5. List themExon 6: 43,109,031–43,109,230, 200 basesExon 7: 43,111,207–43,111,465, 259 basesExon 8: 43,112,099–43,112,224, 126 basesExon 9: 43,112,853–43,112,963, 111 basesExon 10: 43,113,556–43,113,675, 120 bases. 14 variants with a page in exon 10. List themExon 11: 43,114,480–43,114,736, 257 bases. 9 variants with a page in exon 11. List themExon 12: 43,116,584–43,116,731, 148 basesExon 13: 43,118,373–43,118,480, 108 bases. 3 variants with a page in exon 13. List themExon 14: 43,119,531–43,119,745, 215 bases. 3 variants with a page in exon 14. List themExon 15: 43,120,081–43,120,203, 123 bases. 1 variant with a page in exon 15. List themExon 16: 43,121,946–43,122,016, 71 bases. 2 variants with a page in exon 16. List themExon 17: 43,123,671–43,123,808, 138 basesExon 18: 43,124,883–43,124,982, 100 basesExon 19: 43,126,575–43,126,722, 148 basesExon 20: 43,128,112–43,130,351, 2,240 bases124681012141618205′3′

Exons of the gene's MANE Select transcript (release v1.5), from NCBI and EMBL-EBI, on the GRCh38 reference genome.

Chromosome bands from UCSC's GRCh38 ideogram (2022-10-29).

Nearby genes from Ensembl release 116, on GRCh38.

Exons make up 5.6 kb of the gene's 53.3 kb; 3,345 of those bases code for the protein.

How a genome test reads RET

113

positions in RET where ClinVar classes a change as pathogenic or likely pathogenic

None of them falls in a region short reads find hard.

A whole genome covers all 53.3 kb of RET, introns included, not only the 5.6 kb of exons.

Variants with a page (33)

The RET variants with a page here, most review stars first. Each page describes ClinVar's public record of the variant, never a result.

VariantHGVS c.Exon or intronPosition (GRCh38)ClinVar classificationReview status
c.1852T>AExon 1043,113,648Pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
c.1858T>AExon 1043,113,654Pathogenic/likely pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
c.1947G>AExon 1143,114,547Pathogenic/likely pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
c.1998G>CExon 1143,114,598Pathogenic/likely pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
c.2370G>TExon 1343,118,458Pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
c.2410G>CExon 1443,119,548Pathogenic/likely pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
C609Rc.1825T>CExon 1043,113,621Pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
C609Yc.1826G>AExon 1043,113,622Pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
C611Fc.1832G>TExon 1043,113,628Pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
C611Yc.1832G>AExon 1043,113,628Pathogenic2 stars out of 4 criteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts

See all 33 RET variants →

Where this comes from

  • HGNC: the gene's symbol, name, other symbols and location.
  • MANE Select v1.5, from NCBI and EMBL-EBI: the transcript, its exons and coding sequence.
  • GenCC and ClinGen, released 2026-10-16: which conditions the gene is linked to, and how strongly.
  • The ACMG secondary findings list, SF v3.2.
  • ClinVar and the GIAB stratifications: known disease-causing sites, and the regions short reads find hard.
  • The Human Phenotype Ontology, release 2026-09-01: the traits linked to the gene. Find out more at hpo.jax.org.
  • Data release 2026.10.16-c6eea6bf.

Cite this page

APA

Dante Labs. (n.d.). RET gene: ret proto-oncogene. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://dantelabs.com/genes/ret

Vancouver

Dante Labs. RET gene: ret proto-oncogene [Internet]. [cited 16 October 2026]. Available from: https://dantelabs.com/genes/ret

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