Incidentally simultaneous occurrence of RET/PTC, H4–PTEN and BRAF mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Because interaction existed between PTEN and RET-RAS-RAF-MAPK pathway, H4–PTEN (a newly identified gene rearrangement), RET/PTC and BRAF mutation were scanned in 125 Chinese patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). H4–PTEN were detected in 9.6% of PTC and the frequency of the occurrence of BRAF mutation and/or RET/PTC in H4–PTEN positive tumors was extremely high (75%). On the other hand, age has an important effect on the aberration formation and young age renders more prone to multi-genetic events. A combinational scanning of these involved changes will improve the predictive value of molecular aberrations in the treatment of PTC.