title: Immunohistochemical detection of the BRAF V600E mutant protein in colorectal cancers in Taiwan is highly concordant with the molecular test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to investigate the incidence of BRAF mutations in colorectal cancers (CRCs) in Taiwan and the sensitivity and specificity of VE1 immunohistochemistry in detecting the BRAF(V) (600E) mutation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 425 resected colorectal adenocarcinoma specimens were recruited into this study. Direct Sanger sequencing of exon 15 of the BRAF gene was performed for all cases. The incidence of BRAF mutation was 5.4% (23 of 425). Tissue microarrays were constructed for VE1 immunohistochemistry, and the staining intensity was scored as negative (0), weak (1+), moderate (2+) and strong (3+). In BRAF-mutated cases, two (8.7%) scored as 0, three (13.0%) as 1+, 13 (56.5%) as 2+ and five (21.7%) as 3+. Among 402 BRAF wild-type cases, five (1.2%) were scored as 1+, while the others were negative. The sensitivity and specificity of VE1 expression in detecting the BRAF mutation was 91.3% and 98.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunohistochemistry for VE1 antibody is a sensitive and specific marker for detection of BRAF mutations in CRCs. Incorporation of VE1 immunohistochemistry into Lynch syndrome screening protocol may be a reliable and cost-effective method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-Fan
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Anna Fen-Yau
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Ching
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Yih
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003123:Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050505:Mutant Proteins; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
keywords: BRAF mutation; Lynch syndrome; Taiwan; VE1 antibody; colorectal cancer