Mutation in Genes Encoding Key Functional Groups Additively Increase Mortality in Patients with BRAF(V600E)-Mutant Advanced Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe BRAF(V600E) point mutation is the most common driver mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and is known to be associated with aggressive clinical features. However, the negative prognostic impact of BRAF(V600E) on PTC mostly depends on tumor characteristics, not on itself. Moreover, the prognosis of BRAF(V600E)-mutant PTCs varies widely implying the genetic diversity of this subtype. Additional genetic alterations other than BRAF(V600E) may be responsible for the aggressiveness of this group but to date, no mutations other than TERT promoter mutation have been identified. This study aimed to investigate the effect of additional genetic alterations, focusing on the mutations in genes encoding functional groups on survival in BRAF(V600E)-mutant PTCs. We observed that coexistence of mutations in BRAF(V600E) and the three functional groups had the worst survival in patients with PTCs compared with mutations in BRAF(V600E) and genes other than those associated with functional groups or mutations in only BRAF(V600E).The prognosis of BRAF(V600E)-mutant papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) ranges from indolent to highly aggressive courses. To better define the genetic diversity of this subtype, we evaluated the survival according to the presence of an additional mutation in genes encoding functional groups (FGs) in BRAF(V600E)-mutant advanced PTC patients. Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed in primary tumors of 50 BRAF(V600E)-mutant PTCs with distant metastasis or aggressive variants. The mutation in genes encoding FGs included alterations in histone methyltransferases, SWI/SNF subunit, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Fifteen patients only had the BRAF(V600E)-mutation (group 1), 22 had BRAF(V600E) and mutation other than FGs (group 2), and 13 had BRAF(V600E) and FG mutation (group 3). OS was significantly lower in patients with FG mutations (p = 0.001) than those without, and group 3 patients had the worst survival (p = 0.004). OS significantly varied among none, one, or two FG mutation sites (p = 0.005). Presence of FG mutation was independently associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio 11.65, 95% confidence interval 1.39-97.58, p = 0.024). Coexistence of mutations in BRAF(V600E) and genes encoding FGs was associated with high mortality. Identification of FG mutation in BRAF(V600E)-mutant PTCs may be valuable in risk stratifying this subtype.