BRAF V600E and decreased NIS and TPO expression are associated with aggressiveness of a subgroup of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Abstract

BackgroundThyroid cancer incidence has dramatically increased worldwide over the last two decades. The rise is mostly due to an increased detection of small papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) (≤20 mm), predominantly microPTC (≤10 mm). Although small tumors generally have an excellent outcome, a considerable percentage may have a more aggressive disease and worse prognosis. The clinical challenge is to preoperatively identify those tumors that are more likely to recur.AimTo improve risk stratification and patient management, we sought to determine the prognostic value of BRAF V600E,NRASorRET/PTCmutations in patients with PTC measuring <20 mm, mainly microPTC.MethodsThe prevalence ofRET/PTCfusion genes was examined by quantitative RT-PCR. BRAF V600E and NRAS Q61 mutations were determined by PCR sequencing. To further elucidate why some small PTC are less responsive to radioactive iodine treatment therapy, we explored if these genetic alterations may modulate the expression of iodine metabolism genes (NIS,TPO,TG,TSHRandPDS) and correlated with clinico-pathological findings that are predictors of recurrence.ResultsThis study shows that tumors measuring ≤20 mm exhibited higher prevalence of BRAF V600E mutation, which correlated with aggressive histopathological parameters, higher risk of recurrence, and lower expression ofNISandTPO. Although this correlation was not found when microPTC were evaluated, we show that tumors measuring 7–10 mm, which were positive for BRAF mutation, presented more aggressive features and lower expression ofNISandTPO.ConclusionWe believe that our findings will help to decide the realistic usefulness of BRAF V600E mutation as a preoperative marker of poor prognosis in small PTC, primarily in microPTC.