title: Detectable BRAF mutation in serum DNA samples from patients with papillary thyroid carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND.: An activating point mutation of the BRAF oncogene results in a V600E amino acid missense mutation found in a majority of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC). METHODS.: In this study, 28 matched tumor and serum samples obtained from patients with both benign and malignant thyroid disorders were analyzed for BRAF mutation using a gap-ligase chain reaction technique. RESULTS.: The BRAF mutation was absent in tumor DNA samples obtained from patients with benign adenomas, follicular neoplasms or carcinoma, and thyroid lymphoma. In contrast, 5 of 14 PTC tumors were positive for the BRAF mutation. Moreover, 3 of 14 patients with PTC were positive for BRAF mutation in serum and tumor. Of these 3 patients, 2 had lymph node metastasis and 2 had PTC in background of the Hashimoto's thyroiditis. CONCLUSIONS.: The detection of free circulating mutant BRAF in patients with PTC is possible and future studies are warranted to determine its clinical significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Cancer Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287-0910, USA.
authors.forename: Tony C Y
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Alice Y C
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poeta
authors.forename: Wayne M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Califano
authors.forename: Ralph P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Tufano
mesh_terms: D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics*; D018265:Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular / Q000235:genetics*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf