BRAF(V600E) mutation and NIS expression in papillary thyroid carcinomas

Objective To investigate BRAFV600E mutation and sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expression and its clinical significance in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC).Methods BRAFV600E mutation was evaluated by direct sequencing and BRAFV600E mutation was determined in 40 cases of PTC.NIS expression was examined by means of immunohistochemistry.The relationship between BRAFV600E mutation and the clinicopathologic features of PTC was analyzed.The relationship between NIS expression and BRAFV600E mutation in PTC was analyzed.Results Positive BRAFV600E mutation was determined in 23 of 40 cases of PTC (57.5％),whereas positive NIS expression was showed in 7 of 40 cases (12.5％).BRAFV600E mutation was associated with extrathyroid invasion and a high risk of disease recurrence in PTC (P ＜ 0.05).Positive NIS expression was found in only one of 23 cases of PTC with BRAFV600E mutation,and positive NIS expression was associated with a statistically significant lower BRAFV600E mutation in PTC (P =0.011).Conclusions BRAFV600E mutation might be associated with higher aggressiveness,higher disease recurrence and a poorer prognosis.Lower NIS expression may be responsible for poor 131I uptake in Key words: Thyroid neoplasms ;  Carcinoma, papillary ;  Proto-oncogene proteins B-raf;  Mutation