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BRAFV600E mutation in the pathogenesis of a large series of papillary thyroid carcinoma in Czech Republic

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Abstract

Background: Activating point mutation of the BRAF gene, the most common genetic alteration reported in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC), has been associated with poor prognostic characteristics. Aim: Our objective was to determine the frequency of BRAFV600E mutation in PTC tumor tissues from the period 1960–2007 and to correlate it with clinicopathological parameters. Subjects and methods: DNAs were extracted from 242 PTCs, 23 sporadic medullary carcinomas, one anaplastic carcinoma and 6 poorly differentiated carcinomas. The presence of BRAFV600E mutation was determined using single strand conformation polymorphism method and verified by direct sequencing. Results: BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 81 of 242 PTCs (33.5%), in one of 6 poorly differentiated carcinomas (16.7%) and in anaplastic carcinoma. BRAFV600E mutation was much less frequent in the follicular variant compared to classical variant and mixed follicular-classical variant of PTCs (p=0.001). BRAF V600E mutation was significantly associated with presence of nodal metastasis (p=0.029), more advanced TNM stage (p=0.014) and recurrence of disease (p=0.008). The mutation correlated with a higher age at diagnosis (p=0.049) and with a greater tumor size (p=0.041). Multivariate analysis confirmed these findings. The prevalence of BRAFV600E mutation before 1986 was significantly lower than after it (p=0.008). Conclusions: Our data suggest that BRAFV600E mutation is associated with high-risk clinicopathological characteristics of PTC and worse prognosis of patients. The frequency of the mutation significantly varied during the observed period but rather because of the different age distribution of patients in particular periods than as a consequence of Chernobyl accident.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic

    V. Sykorova MSc, S. Dvorakova, J. Vcelak, E. Vaclavikova & B. Bendlova

  2. The Fingerland Department of Pathology, Charles University Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    A. Ryska & J. Laco

  3. Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

    D. Kodetova, R. Kodet & A. Cibula

  4. Institute of Pathology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    J. Duskova

  5. Institute of Pathology and Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    A. Hlobilkova

  6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 1st Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    J. Astl, D. Vesely & J. Betka

  7. Department of Surgery, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    J. Hoch & S. Smutny

  8. 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Charles University Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    J. Cap

  9. Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology, 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    P. Vlcek

  10. Department of Clinical Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic

    Z. Novak

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  1. V. Sykorova MSc
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Correspondence to V. Sykorova MSc.

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Sykorova, V., Dvorakova, S., Ryska, A. et al. BRAFV600E mutation in the pathogenesis of a large series of papillary thyroid carcinoma in Czech Republic. J Endocrinol Invest 33, 318–324 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03346593

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