Molecular evaluation of BRAF gene mutation in thyroid tumors: Significant association with papillary tumors and extra thyroidal extension indicating its role as a biomarker of aggressive disease.

Background: Somatic mutation of the BRAF gene is one to be the most commonly known genetic change in thyroid tumors especially papillary thyroid cancers. The T1799A activating point mutation is detected in >98% of the thyroid tumors, and result in substitution of amino acid valine at position 600 to glutamic acid.

Method: In this study, we evaluated BRAF mutation in 95 Indian thyroid tumors by pyrosequencing assay.