title: BRAFV600E mutation does not mean distant metastasis in thyroid papillary carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The oncogenic BRAFV600E mutation has been frequently associated with aggressive behavior of papillary thyroid carcinomas. However, controversy exists on the consistency of these data, and very little is known about the relationship between this genetic alteration and the tendency of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) to develop metastasis at distant sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed by direct sequencing the frequency of BRAFV600E mutation within a group of 47 highly aggressive PTC, which had developed distant metastases. As control, we analyzed the BRAFV600E mutation in a group of 75 PTC without distant metastases who were disease free for a minimum 7-yr follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BRAFV600E mutation was present in 29.8% of the distantly metastatic PTC, whereas it was detected in about 44.0% of the control tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results clearly prove that the BRAFV600E mutation is not associated with the development of distant metastases or fatal outcome in PTC and may not predict aggressive behavior in this type of tumor.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Oncology, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Azienda Ospedaliera-Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Sancisi
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Nicoli
authors: Moira
authors: M
authors: Ragazzi
authors: Simonetta
authors: S
authors: Piana
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Ciarrocchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf