Objective: To explore the association bewteen BRAF mutations and papillary thyroid cancer.
Methods: BRAF gene mutations in 73 cases of papillary thyroid cancer and 16 cases of thyroid gland benign tumor were detected by PCR and sequencing technology.
Results: We found 42 instances of BRAF mutations in 73 cases of thyroid cancer. However, no mutation was found in tissues from benign thyroid tumors. There were significant correlations between BRAF mutation and lymph node metastasis, and between BRAF mutation and the clinical stage of papillary thyroid cancer (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The mutation of BRAF is associated with the pathogenesis, lymph node metastasis, and clinical stage of papillary thyroid cancer.