The Clinicopathological Features of BRAF Mutated Papillary Thyroid Cancers in Chinese Patients.
The BRAF(V600E) mutation is commonly found in papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs) at different frequencies in different regions. However, the association between the BRAF(V600E) mutation and clinicopathological features in Chinese PTC patients is unknown. A total of 543 Chinese patients with histologically confirmed PTC were enrolled in this study. For the BRAF mutation assay, the target fragments were amplified and sequenced with an ABI 3500 gene analyzer. In 170 of 543 samples (31.3%), the BRAF(V600E) mutation was detected. In the bivariate analysis, the BRAF(V600E) mutation showed an association with bilaterality, tumor size, extrathyroidal invasion, and lymph node metastases (LNM). However, in the multivariate analysis, the BRAF(V600E) mutation was positively related to only tumor size (>1 cm) and extrathyroidal invasion. In addition, the multivariate analysis also showed that the age at diagnosis (<45 y) and tumor size (>1 cm) were independent predictors for LNM. In this study, the BRAF(V600E) mutation is positively associated with worse prognostic factors, including larger tumor size and the tumor extending to the thyroid capsule or extrathyroidal region; however, it is not an independent predictor for LNM.
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China ; Laboratory of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Li-Bo
LB
Yang
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Lin-Yong
LY
Sun
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yong
Y
Jiang
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Ying
Y
Tang
Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhi-Hui
ZH
Li
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Hong-Ying
HY
Zhang
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China ; Laboratory of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Hong
H
Bu
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China ; Laboratory of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Feng
F
Ye