Calcitonin receptor mRNA is expressed in human medullary thyroid carcinoma.

We recently reported the presence of a truncated form (h-CTR2) of the human calcitonin receptor (CTR) in TT cells, a cell line derived from medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). This form (h-CTR2), characterized by the absence of 16 amino acids in the first intracellular domain, was also detected in two cases of MTC. In the present study we determined the expression of CTR mRNA in a larger sample, representative of the different clinical forms of MTC, and in normal thyroid. h-CTR2 was expressed in all MTC specimens (both sporadic and familial) and in the normal thyroid samples. The expression of the receptor mRNA was higher in MTC compared with normal thyroid. Moreover, CT and CTR mRNA levels were modified significantly during proliferation. This result suggests that CT may be involved in proliferation of MTC via autocrine/paracrine regulation. Calcitonin secretion by MTC may play a role in the development and spread of these tumors.