[P-26] BRAF (V600E) mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma in a Vietnamese population: lacking correlation with aggressive clinicopathological features

Tho Ngoc-Quynh Le1, Vu Anh Hoang2 and Diem Ngoc-Thi Vo1

  1. Department of Histology, Embryology and Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  2. Centre for Molecular Biology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

 

Background and Objectives: BRAF (V600E) is a common event in papillary thyroid carcinoma, especially in the Asian population. However, it still remains whether or not it is a valuable surrogate marker for predicting the prognosis of a high incidence population. Moreover, papillary thyroid carcinoma is diagnosed earlier than in the past. In Vietnam, there are not many studies regarding this issue, especially in early-stage patients.

Materials and Methods: We performed BRAF (V600E) mutation analysis using a section from paraffin-embedded specimens of 82 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for primary papillary thyroid carcinoma at University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh city in 2020. The clinical features were recorded from hospital data. The pathologist interpreted the pathological characteristics and the association between the mutation and high-risk factors.

Results: The prevalence of BRAF (V600E) mutation was 86.5% with a higher rate in tumours larger than 1.0 cm but did not increase with tumour size. The mutation also showed the association with tall cell variant and gross extrathyroidal extension. Surprisingly, the prevalence of lymph node metastasis significantly increased in tumours with absent of the mutation. There was no correlation between BRAF (V600E) mutation and other aggressive clinicopathological features older age, multifocal, advanced stages and extranodal extension.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that, although BRAF (V600E) mutation may play some roles in local development, there is no evidence that BRAF (V600E) mutation significantly reflects the aggressive characteristics and poor prognosis of patients with high incidence mutation population in Vietnam.