Association of BRAF V600E Allele Frequency With Clinicopathologic Outcomes in Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors' conclusion
Higher AF was associated with gross ETE and increased recurrence risk. This may inform initial management in patients with PTC harboring an isolated BRAF V600E mutation.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive patients with Bethesda V/VI nodules and isolated BRAF V600E mutation who underwent surgery with histopathology showing papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), UCLA Health, 2016–2019
- Participants
- 73 patients
- Exposure
- Higher vs lower BRAF V600E allele frequency
- Outcome
- Risk of aggressive histopathology and cancer persistence/recurrence
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients, single-centre, blinded molecular analysis, Blinded ThyroSeq v3 molecular analysis after completion of initial management and follow-up
- Consecutive patients
- Single-centre
- Blinded molecular analysis
- Blinded ThyroSeq v3 molecular analysis after completion of initial management and follow-up
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
BRAF V600E AF by ATA risk class
ATA high-risk vs ATA intermediate-risk: P < 0.01 · ATA high-risk vs ATA low-risk: P < 0.01
- Median BRAF V600E allele frequency (AF), all patients
- 25.5% (IQR, 16.7%-34.3%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Recurrence-free survival by AF ≥ 35%
| HR for recurrence (CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| AF ≥ 35%Higher AF associated with poorer recurrence-free survival | 7.40 (1.4–38.1) | |
| 0.050.21520HR for recurrence (log scale) |
| Outcome | Values | P value |
|---|---|---|
| BRAF V600E AF by gross ETEGross ETE vs Without gross ETE · higher AF with gross ETE | Gross ETE 40.1% · Without gross ETE 25.2% | P = 0.02 |
| BRAF V600E AF by tumor sizeTumors ≥ 2 cm vs Tumors < 2 cm · higher AF with tumors ≥ 2 cm | Tumors ≥ 2 cm median 32.0% · Tumors < 2 cm median 24.4% | P < 0.01 |
| BRAF V600E AF by disease persistence/recurrence · over 4.1 years of follow-upPersistence/recurrence vs Without recurrence · higher median AF with persistence/recurrence | Persistence/recurrence median 35.3% · Without recurrence median 25.2% | P = 0.02 |
- BRAF V600E AF by disease persistence/recurrence — Disease persistence/recurrence
- 7 patients (9.4%)
BRAF V600E AF by lymph node positivity or aggressive PTC variants
- No differences in AF by lymph node positivity or presence of aggressive variants of PTC
Original publication
Association of BRAF V600E Allele Frequency With Clinicopathologic Outcomes in Papillary Thyroid Cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 14 November 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →