Modifications in the Papillary Thyroid Cancer Gene Profile Over the Last 15 Years

Background: Evidence for an increased prevalence of BRAFV600E mutations has been documented in recent decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of both RET/PTC rearrangements and BRAFV600E mutations in an Italian cohort of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients followed at the Endocrine Units of Pisa, Milano, and Perugia from 1996–2010. Patients and Methods: In total, 401 PTC patients were examined and grouped according to the time of surgery: group 1, 1996–2000; group 2, 2001–2005; and group 3, 2006–2010. Patients were analyzed for clinical, pathological, and molecular features. In parallel, the molecular characteristics of 459 PTC from Sicily were studied. Results: The genetic profiles of the three groups were significantly different (P < 0.0001). In particular, the frequency of RET/PTC rearrangements decreased from 1996–2010, occurring in 33 of 100 (33%) of the patients in group 1, 26 of 148 (17%) in group 2, and 15 of 153 (9.8%) in group 3. The incidence of BRAFV600E mutations ...