title: Clinical implications of the extent of BRAFV600Ealleles in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: There are many conflicting reports about the clinical implications of BRAFV600Ein papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We investigated the associations between the extent of BRAFV600Ealleles and both clinico-pathological features and recurrence of PTC.
  
  
  
  Carcinoma tissues from 60 patients with PTC were genotyped for BRAFV600Eusing pyrosequencing, and the clinico-pathological factors and disease outcomes of the patients were examined. The associations between the extent of mutant BRAF alleles and both clinico-pathological parameters and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed.
  
  
  
  The BRAFV600Emutation was detected in 66.7% (40/60) of our PTC patients. When we defined four groups on the basis of the extent of BRAFV600Ealleles by pyrosequencing-negative (less than 5%), low (5 - less than 15%), intermediate (15 - less than 25%), and high (25% or greater)- the four groups showed statistically significant differences regarding lymph node (LN) metastasis and recurrence (P<0.05). However, age, gender, tumor size, multicentricity, capsular invasion, and lymphovascular invasion were not significantly different among the groups. The 10-year RFS rates in PTC patients with greater than 25% and less than 25% mutated BRAF alleles were 74% and 100%, respectively. This difference was significant (P=0.043).
  
  
  
  A high extent more than 25% of BRAFV600Ealleles may be associated with disease outcome in PTC patients. We need more data to verify a hypothesis that the extent of BRAF mutations may be clinically informative in the management of PTC, such as by tailoring proper surgical and radioactive iodine treatments and determining appropriate management during follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Research Institute for Medical Science, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Research Institute for Medical Science, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Nam
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Research Institute for Medical Science, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Center, GenomicTree, Inc., Daejeon Bioventure Town, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Taejeong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Research Institute for Medical Science, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Research Institute for Medical Science, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: bskoo515@cnuh.co.kr.
authors.forename: Bon Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Koo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
keywords: BRAF mutation; Lymph node metastasis; Papillary thyroid cancer; Recurrence