286
Views
35
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Theme: Cancer/Oncology Diagnostics - Review

BRAF mutation testing in clinical practice

&
Pages 127-138 | Published online: 09 Jan 2014
 

Abstract

Serine/threonine-protein kinase BRAF, a downstream effector of the RAS oncogene along the MEK/ERK signaling pathway, has emerged as an important biological marker for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic guidance for human cancers. The high prevalence of BRAFV600E activating mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma, cutaneous malignant melanoma and hairy cell leukemia implies that the mutation is an important ’driver‘ or ’codriver‘ in the development of a subset of these cancers. Diagnostically, the BRAFV600E mutation is a powerful molecular marker for papillary thyroid carcinoma and, quite possibly, hairy cell leukemia as well. Cancers with a BRAF mutation are generally more aggressive than their counterparts without the mutation. Importantly, mutant BRAF has been a highly attractive target for precision cancer therapy. Indeed, recent studies in the clinical trials of BRAF inhibitors in patients with malignant melanoma are changing the treatment paradigm of this highly lethal disease. BRAF mutation testing using highly sensitive and specific methodology in a molecular diagnostic laboratory is essential in the current clinical practice of oncology.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.