Analysis Of BRAF^V600E Mutaiton And Its Clinicopathological Significance In Patients With Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma In Uyghur

Background：The BRAF^V600E mutation is the most common genetic alterationfound in papillary thyroid carcinoma（PTC）. Although several studies undoubtedlydemonstrated that this mutation occurs more frequently in patients with PTC showingaggressive clinicopathologic features, its prognostic significance and correlation with lessdifferentiated states remains unclear. Objective: The aim of the present study was toevaluate the prevalence of the BRAF^V600E mutation in tumor samples and its associationwith high-risk clinico-pathologic features prospectively. Method: From June2007toAugust2011,92Uyghur Patients with thyroid disease, who underwent surgery in FirstAffiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were enrolled in the study. Polymerasechain reaction was used to amplify exon15of the BRAF^V600E gene fromparaffin-embedded thyroid tumor specimens, followed by direct sequencing to detect theBRAF^V600E mutation. Result: The BRAF^V600E mutation was found in19/26（73.1%）patients with PTC, It was only detected in PTC, and not detected in other types ofmalignant and benign thyroid lesions. There was a statistically significant differencebetween classic type PTC and other types of PTC. The BRAF^V600E mutation wasassociated with extrathyroidal extension. The age, sex, lymph node metastases andadvanced disease stage did not, significantly, differ between the patients with and withoutthe BRAF^V600E. Conclusion: The study found that BRAF mutation is closely associatedwith occurrence and development of PTC. The BRAF^V600E mutation may be a potentialprognostic factor in PTC patients.