Association Between Gross Features and Coexistence of BRAFV600E and TERT Promoter Mutations in Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas: A Combined Analysis Incorporating Clinicopathologic Features.

Abstract

Background: The coexistence of v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF^V600E) and telomere reverse transcriptase promoter (TERT-p) mutations is considerably associated with aggressiveness and poor prognosis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the association between gross findings and genetic alterations in PTC remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between clinicopathologic features, including macroscopic features, and the coexistent BRAF^V600E and TERT-p mutations in patients with PTC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 375 cases of PTC surgically resected between January 2018 and October 2023 at a single institution, based on the presence of BRAF^V600E and TERT-p double mutation. Clinicopathologic features, including gross features on the cut surface of tumors, were evaluated. Subsequently, the association between clinicopathologic features and mutation status was statistically examined. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the impact of molecular pathological features on disease-free survival (DFS). Results: The BRAF^V600E and TERT-p double mutation was identified in 78 (20.8%) patients among the PTC cases and was significantly correlated with shorter DFS. Multivariable analysis revealed that factors such as relatively older age (≥55 years) (odds ratio [OR] = 12.083, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.498-32.456), larger tumor size (>2.0 cm) (OR = 2.722, CI 1.104-6.712), lobulated tumor margins (OR = 16.114, CI 3.155-82.296), papillary excrescences on the cut surface (OR = 17.573, CI 3.462-89.201), solid-cut surface (OR = 4.012, CI 1.084-14.849), minimal extrathyroidal extension (ETE) (OR = 4.156, CI 1.209-14.282), gross ETE (OR = 6.517, CI 1.734-24.490), and Ki-67 labeling index (LI) (≥5%, OR = 12.145, CI 4.354-33.877) were significantly associated with the double mutation. Conclusions: The BRAF^V600E and TERT-p double mutation in PTC was significantly associated with relatively old age, larger tumor size, lobulated configuration in tumor margin, papillary excrescences on the cut surface, solid-cut surface, ETE, and high Ki-67 LI. These features are suggestive of the presence of the double mutation and should be analyzed at the molecular level in patients with PTC.