What is RET?
RET is a gene that everyone has, but certain cancers can be driven by alterations in RET
We all have something called RET in our bodies, similar to how we have faucets in our homes. When a person has a RET alteration, it’s like that faucet gets stuck in the “on” position, allowing water to spread, just as RET alterations allow cancer to grow.
Knowing what is driving your cancer can help you and your doctor choose the right treatment for you.
Retevmo is available for RET-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and advanced thyroid cancers.
RET=rearranged during transfection.
SELECT SAFETY INFORMATION
RETEVMO may cause serious side effects, including:
Liver problems: Liver problems (increased liver enzymes) are common with RETEVMO and may sometimes be serious. Your doctor will do blood tests before and during treatment with RETEVMO to check for liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you get any of the following symptoms of liver problems during treatment:
- yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes (jaundice)
- dark “tea-colored” urine
- sleepiness
- bleeding or bruising
- loss of appetite
- nausea or vomiting
- pain on the upper right side of your stomach area
Your doctor may temporarily stop treatment, lower your dose, or permanently stop RETEVMO if you develop liver problems with RETEVMO.
Testing for RET is the first step: Your doctor will perform a test to help determine if Retevmo is right for you
If you are unsure about your RET status, talk with your doctor about biomarker testing to find out if Retevmo is the right treatment for your NSCLC or thyroid cancer
To determine if your cancer is RET-positive, your doctor may opt to perform a biomarker test. A biomarker test is a type of genetic test that can tell your doctor a lot about your cancer’s DNA.
Certain biomarker tests require your doctor to biopsy the tumor, which means removing some tissue or blood for testing. Some biopsies are surgical, may require sedation, and come with a risk of infection. Your doctor will select the right type of biopsy for your tumor. If your tumor has been biopsied previously, some tissue may already be available for testing.
Here are a few questions to help guide the discussion with your doctor
“Have I been tested for all biomarkers that have available treatments?”
- Ask your doctor if they recommend a broad biomarker test that can show if you have a less common alteration like RET. The sooner it is determined whether your NSCLC or thyroid cancer is RET-positive, the sooner you and your doctor can determine if Retevmo is right for you
“What does it mean to test positive for RET?”
- If your tumor tests positive for RET, this means RET may be what is driving your cancer
“What does it mean if I have RET-positive medullary thyroid cancer?”
-
People with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) may find that their cancer is hereditary, which means there is a chance their family members could have the same diagnosis. If you have hereditary MTC, talk to your doctor about how best to discuss your diagnosis with your family
Knowing what is driving your cancer can help you and your doctor choose the right treatment for you.
See how Retevmo may help people living with RET-positive metastatic NSCLC.
See how Retevmo may help people living with RET-positive advanced thyroid cancer.