Genetic landscape of 482 thyroid carcinomas: analysis with the national datacenter for cancer genomic medicine in Japan

Endocrine. 2024 Aug;85(2):766-776. doi: 10.1007/s12020-024-03738-y. Epub 2024 Feb 26.

Abstract

Purpose: Comprehensive genomic profiling is useful for patients with Thyroid carcinoma (TC) for whom standard treatment has become refractory. We analyzed the clinical and genomic characteristics of patients with TC using the Japanese nationwide Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT) database.

Methods: This retrospective observational study used the data obtained from the C-CAT database. Genomic information has been accumulated on representative gene mutations associated with TC.

Results: Among the 482 patients, 212 (44%) were male and 270 (56%) were female. According to histological type, 259 (54%), 46 (10%), 16 (3%), 51 (11%), and 110 (23%) patients had papillary TC (PTC), follicular TC, medullary TC, poorly differentiated TC, and anaplastic TC (ATC), respectively. Among the genomic profiling tests, FoundationOne CDx (n = 388; 80%) was the most frequently performed. The frequencies of BRAF, NRAS, HRAS, KRAS, and RET mutations were 259 (54%), 62 (13%), 13 (3%), 16 (3%), and 12 (2%), respectively. The BRAF V600E mutation (n = 257) was the predominant BRAF mutation. TERT promoter mutations, which are associated with tumor aggressiveness, were detected in 308 patients (64%).

Conclusions: PTC was the most common histologic type of TC for which genetic profiling was performed in Japan, followed by ATC. Since the most common targetable mutation is the BRAF mutation, practical application of BRAF-targeted therapy can be an important treatment option for Japanese patients with TC.

Keywords: C-CAT; Comprehensive genomic profiling; gene alteration; thyroid carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / pathology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / genetics
  • Female
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret* / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Telomerase / genetics
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary / genetics
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • RET protein, human
  • HRAS protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • KRAS protein, human
  • NRAS protein, human
  • TERT protein, human
  • Telomerase
  • Membrane Proteins
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases