Context A dynamic risk stratification with modified initial estimated risk based on response to therapy and disease course is one of the crucial changes adopted recently by the American Thyroid Association (ATA). This approach focuses on an individualized risk-adapted approach to the management of differentiated thyroid cancer. The BRAF V600E mutation is the most common genetic alteration in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, the prognostic value of this mutation remains unclear. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the relation between the BRAF V600E status in PTC and all ATA response to therapy categories, as well as the recurrence and persistence of both biochemical and structural disease. Participants Unselected PTC cases with known BRAF status diagnosed from 2000–2013 and actively monitored at one institution (n=723) were reviewed retrospectively. Main Outcome Measures The association between the BRAF V600E mutation and clinicopathological characteristics, ATA 2015 response-to-therapy category, recurrence after a period of no evidence of disease (NED), and persistent biochemical or structural disease were analyzed. Results BRAF V600E was found in 65.7% (475/723) of PTC cases. Although BRAF mutation status correlated significantly with certain clinicopathological prognostic factors, there was no correlation with any of the response to therapy categories. Recurrences and persistent biochemical or structural disease were not associated with BRAF status. Conclusions Our data are consistent with those of other studies reporting a positive relation between BRAF V600E mutation and poor prognostic factors in PTC, however, the BRAF status did not significantly correlate with a response to therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
