BACKGROUND: The activating BRAF(V600E) mutation is the most common genetic alteration reported in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). While some reports suggest the BRAF(V600E) mutation is associated with factors predicting a poor prognosis and recurrence, this remains a controversial issue. AIM: To determine whether the presence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation is a prognostic indicator for clinical recurrence in low-risk patients with conventional PTC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 203 conventional PTC patients who underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy followed by immediate 131I ablation of the remnants. Patients with antithyroglobulin antibodies and those with extracervical metastases at presentation were excluded. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tumour specimens, and the presence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation was evaluated using PCR amplification and direct sequencing. RESULTS: The BRAF(V600E) mutation was found to be present in 149 (73.4%) of 203 patients. The BRAF(V600E) mutation was correlated with male gender (P = 0.006) and with tumour size (P = 0.005). While there appeared to be an association between the BRAF(V600E) mutation and extrathyroid extension, this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.062). During follow-up of the 203 patients (median 7.3 years; range 0.7-10.0 years), 36 (18%) patients experienced recurrence. While univariate analysis showed the BRAF(V600E) mutation was associated with tumour recurrence (21% with mutation vs 7% without mutation; P = 0.037), this association was not shown following multivariate analyses adjusting for the clinicopathological prognostic factors of age, gender, tumour size, extrathyroid extension, multifocality and lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Although the BRAF(V600E) mutation was found to be associated with a higher clinical recurrence of disease in low-risk conventional PTC patients, it was not an independent predictor.
BACKGROUND: The activating BRAF(V600E) mutation is the most common genetic alteration reported in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). While some reports suggest the BRAF(V600E) mutation is associated with factors predicting a poor prognosis and recurrence, this remains a controversial issue. AIM: To determine whether the presence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation is a prognostic indicator for clinical recurrence in low-risk patients with conventional PTC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 203 conventional PTC patients who underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy followed by immediate 131I ablation of the remnants. Patients with antithyroglobulin antibodies and those with extracervical metastases at presentation were excluded. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tumour specimens, and the presence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation was evaluated using PCR amplification and direct sequencing. RESULTS: The BRAF(V600E) mutation was found to be present in 149 (73.4%) of 203 patients. The BRAF(V600E) mutation was correlated with male gender (P = 0.006) and with tumour size (P = 0.005). While there appeared to be an association between the BRAF(V600E) mutation and extrathyroid extension, this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.062). During follow-up of the 203 patients (median 7.3 years; range 0.7-10.0 years), 36 (18%) patients experienced recurrence. While univariate analysis showed the BRAF(V600E) mutation was associated with tumour recurrence (21% with mutation vs 7% without mutation; P = 0.037), this association was not shown following multivariate analyses adjusting for the clinicopathological prognostic factors of age, gender, tumour size, extrathyroid extension, multifocality and lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Although the BRAF(V600E) mutation was found to be associated with a higher clinical recurrence of disease in low-risk conventional PTC patients, it was not an independent predictor.
Authors: Ji Hye Yim; Won Gu Kim; Min Ji Jeon; Ji Min Han; Tae Yong Kim; Jong Ho Yoon; Suck Joon Hong; Dong Eun Song; Gyungyub Gong; Young Kee Shong; Won Bae Kim Journal: Thyroid Date: 2013-12-13 Impact factor: 6.568
Authors: Electron Kebebew; Julie Weng; Juergen Bauer; Gustavo Ranvier; Orlo H Clark; Quan-Yang Duh; Daniel Shibru; Boris Bastian; Ann Griffin Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 12.969
Authors: Kathleen C Lee; Carol Li; Eric B Schneider; Yongchun Wang; Helina Somervell; Matthew Krafft; Christopher B Umbricht; Martha A Zeiger Journal: Surgery Date: 2012-10-11 Impact factor: 3.982