BRAF mutations have been found in a high percentage of melanoma cell lines and metastases; however, only a few studies with a limited number of specimens have focused on primary melanomas.
BRAF(V599E) tended to be associated, although not significantly, with a greater volume and extension of the tumour and with lymph-nodal metastases at surgery.
BRAFV600E was associated with extrathyroidal invasion (P < 0.0001), multicentricity (P = 0.0026), presence of nodal metastases (P = 0.0009), class III vs. classes I and II (P < 0.00000006), and absence of tumor capsule (P < 0.0001), in particular in follicular- and micro-PTC variants.
BRAFV600E gene mutation was documented in this lesion, and the patient received vemurafenib, with dramatic improvement noted on positron emission tomography scan after 2 months of treatment, soon followed by development of extensive metastases, including to brain.
BRAF mutations were found in 84 patients (44.9%) and 144 tumour samples (48%) with BRAF mutations in 45.5% of primary tumours and 51.3% of metastases, respectively.
BRAF(V600E) was characterized in 113 PTC patients diagnosed with pT1aNo-x (one PTC focus with a diameter <1 cm, without lymph node or distant metastases according to IUCC/AJCC TNM staging system 2010).
BRAF mutant tumors were also associated with nodal metastases (OR=1.9 P = 0.004), despite being thinner at diagnosis than BRAF WT (median 1.2 mm versus 1.6 mm, P < 0.001).
BRAFV600E was associated with advanced TNM (P < 0.001), more distant metastases (P = 0.025), and worse overall survival (OS, P < 0.001; multivariate HR = 4.2, P = 0.004) in colon cancer patients.
BRAF mutation was strongly associated with peritoneal metastases (relative risk = 1.8, p < .001) with lower incidence of lung (RR = 0.3, p = .004) and liver (RR = 0.7, p = .005) limited metastases.