Author Interviews, Genetic Research, Nature, Thyroid / 24.11.2013
Thyroid Cancer: Increase in BRAF, RAS Mutations
MedicalResearch.com Interview
Yuri E. Nikiforov, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Pathology, Vice Chair for Molecular Pathology
Director, Division of Molecular & Genomic Pathology
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Nikiforov: This is examined temporal changes in mutational profiles and standardized histopathologic features of thyroid cancer in the U.S. over the last four decades. It showed a significant change in molecular profiles of thyroid cancer during the past 40 years as it determined two major trends in changing the mutational make-up of thyroid cancer: a rapid increase in the prevalence of RAS mutations, particularly for the last 10 years, and continuous decrease in frequency of RET/PTC rearrangement. The rising incidence of RAS mutations points to new and more recent etiologic factors, probably of a chemical or dietary nature. The decreasing incidence of RET/PTC rearrangements, a known marker of high-dose environmental and medical radiation, suggest that the impact of ionizing radiation, at least as related to high-dose environmental exposures and historical patterns of radiation treatment for benign conditions, is diminishing.
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