BRAF mutation and AKAP9 expression in sporadic papillary thyroid carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine the BRAF mutation and AKAP9 expression in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs).


RESULTS
In this study, we analysed 100 sporadic PTC specimens and we detected mutation in 62.2% of the conventional type PTCs (51/82), in 50% of the follicular variant type PTCs (3/6), in 50% of the diffuse sclerosing variant type PTCs (1/2), and in 30% of the microcarcinomas (3/10). All mutations involved a T-->A transversion at the nucleotide 1796. The cases with BRAF mutation were significantly associated with extrathyroidal extension. We also evaluated the expression of AKAP9 protein by immunohistochemistry. The AKAP9 protein was seen as a single perinuclear dot in all the PTCs. Therefore, 58% of the specimens harboured the BRAF mutation and no case had AKAP9-BRAF fusion in the sporadic PTCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the BRAF mutation can be a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker and a target for exploring novel cancer therapies to treat PTCs. AKAP9-BRAF fusion may be a very rare event in sporadic PTCs.
Lee
Ju-Han
JH
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Eung Seok
ES
Kim
Young-Sik
YS
Won
Nam Hee
NH
Chae
Yang-Seok
YS
D054758:A Kinase Anchor Proteins; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D054758:A Kinase Anchor Proteins; C119719:AKAP9 protein, human; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf