BRAF V600E mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma: it’s relation to clinical features and oncologic outcomes in a single cancer centre experience

Abstract

Purpose: This study focuses on the oncologic influence of BRAF V600E mutations in a cohort of Middle Eastern papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients treated at a single centre. We tested the association of BRAF V600E mutation with papillary thyroid carcinoma at King Hussein Cancer Center. Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed PTC who underwent surgic al treatment between 2006 and 2015 were included in this study. Oncological outcomes, both short-and long-termed, were collected. Results: A total of 128 patients (68% females) were included in this st udy with a mean age of 38 years (±13.8). The median follow-up period was 50 mon ths. The BRAF V600E mutation was found in 71% of patients. The tumour size for pati ents with a negative BRAF V600E mutation was significantly larger in comparison to pa tients who tested positive for the mutation (3.47 cm vs 2.31 cm, respectively, P = 0.009). The two groups showed similar disease-free survival (DFS) rates; positive = 75% (median 43 months (0–168)) compared to 78% for the negative BRAF V600E mutation (median 38 months (3–142)) (P = 0.162, HR = 0.731) Furthermore, both groups showed similar overall surviva l rates, positive = 94.5% (median 56 months (0–228)) compared to 94.6% for the neg ative BRAF V600E mutation (median 43 months (3–157)) (P = 0.941, HR = 0.940). Conclusion: BRAF V600E mutation had no effect on loco-regional recurrence, distant metastasis, overall survival, or DFS. These findings may be attr ibuted to geographic variations or reflect that BRAF V600E may only serve as an indicator of poor prognosis in high-risk group as such.

Keywords

• thyroid cancer
• papillary
• neoplasms
• mutation
• middle east