1804 – Genetic testing to detect RET variants in patients with medullary thyroid cancer to determine eligibility for PBS subsidised selpercatinib treatment

New Medicare Benefits Schedule item.

The proposed medical service is testing of tumour tissue in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) to detect somatic RET variants (i.e. variants that spontaneously occur in the tumour and are not hereditary). This test is to determine eligibility for a potential new PBS-subsidised treatment, selpercatinib.

This application does not nominate a specific methodology for RET variant testing; however, it proposes the majority of pathology laboratories will utilise polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels to detect somatic RET variants in patients with MTC.

Type: Investigative

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare form of thyroid cancer. MTC is considered a neuroendocrine tumour (Gild 2023). REarranged during transfection (RET) variants are genetic alterations found in 70% of MTCs (Wirth 2020). 

The following consultation deadlines apply:

• Pre-PASC consultation deadline: Friday 11 July 2025 11:59pm AEDT
• Pre-MSAC consultation deadline: 

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This application will be considered at the following meetings:

• PASC meeting: 15 August 2025
• ESC meeting: 
• MSAC meeting: 

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The outcome of this application is pending.

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