Context: Telomerase promoter mutations (TERT) were recently described in follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinomas (FCDTC) and seem to be more prevalent in aggressive cancers. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the frequency of TERT promoter mutations in thyroid lesions and to investigate the prognostic significance of such mutations in a large cohort of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs). Design: This was a retrospective observational study. Setting and Patients: We studied 647 tumors and tumor-like lesions. A total of 469 patients with FCDTC treated and followed in five university hospitals were included. Mean follow-up (±SD) was 7.8 ± 5.8 years. Main Outcome Measures: Predictive value of TERT promoter mutations for distant metastasization, disease persistence at the end of follow-up, and disease-specific mortality. Results: TERT promoter mutations were found in 7.5% of papillary carcinomas (PTCs), 17.1% of follicular carcinomas, 29.0% of poorly differentiated carcinomas, and 33.3% of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. Patients with TERT-mutated tumors were older (P < .001) and had larger tumors (P = .002). In DTCs, TERT promoter mutations were significantly associated with distant metastases (P < .001) and higher stage (P < .001). Patients with DTC harboring TERT promoter mutations were submitted to more radioiodine treatments (P = .009) with higher cumulative dose (P = .004) and to more treatment modalities (P = .001). At the end of follow-up, patients with TERT-mutated DTCs were more prone to have persistent disease (P = .001). TERT promoter mutations were significantly associated with disease-specific mortality [in the whole FCDTC (P < .001)] in DTCs (P < .001), PTCs (P = .001), and follicular carcinomas (P < .001). After adjusting for age at diagnosis and gender, the hazard ratio was 10.35 (95% confidence interval 2.01–53.24; P = .005) in DTC and 23.81 (95% confidence interval 1.36–415.76; P = .03) in PTCs. Conclusions: TERT promoter mutations are an indicator of clinically aggressive tumors, being correlated with worse outcome and disease-specific mortality in DTC. TERT promoter mutations have an independent prognostic value in DTC and, notably, in PTC.

Sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC) frequently harbor mutations in the RET protooncogene. We have earlier reported a series of 51 sporadic MTC with 64.7% of RET-positive and 35.3% of RET-negative cases. In the present study, we investigated the possible involvement of RAS and BRAF protooncogenes in the development of sporadic RET-negative MTC. We performed PCR amplification and sequencing analysis of the three mutational hotspots (codons 12, 13, and 61) of the H-, K-, and N-RAS genes, and of the mutational hotspot (codon 600) and exon 11 of the BRAF gene in 65 sporadic MTC, of which 40 were RET positive and 25 were RET negative. Somatic H-RAS and K-RAS mutations were detected in 14 of 25 (56.0%) and three of 25 (12.0%) of RET-negative sporadic MTC, respectively. On the other hand, only one of 40 (2.5%) RET-positive sporadic MTC had a RAS mutation, namely in H-RAS. One of the H-RAS mutations was novel (c.32_37dupCCGGCG). No mutations of N-RAS or BRAF were detected in all assessed tumor samples. Overall, our results showed that RAS mutations were present in 68.0% (17 of 25) of the RET-negative MTC and in only 2.5% of the RET-positive MTC (P < 0.0001), suggesting that activation of the protooncogenes RAS and RET represents alternative genetic events in sporadic MTC tumorigenesis.

Screening of REarranged during Transfection (RET) gene mutations has been carried out in different series of sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC). RET-positive tumours seem to be associated to a worse clinical outcome. However, the correlation between the type of RET mutation and the patients' clinicopathological data has not been evaluated yet. We analysed RET exons 5, 8, 10–16 in fifty-one sporadic MTC, and found somatic mutations in thirty-three (64.7%) tumours. Among the RET-positive cases, exon 16 was the most frequently affected (60.6%). Two novel somatic mutations (Cys630Gly, c.1881del18) were identified. MTC patients were divided into three groups: group 1, with mutations in RET exons 15 and 16; group 2, with other RET mutations; group 3, having no RET mutations. Group 1 had higher prevalence (P=0.0051) and number of lymph node metastases (P=0.0017), and presented more often multifocal tumours (P=0.037) and persistent disease at last control (P=0.0242) than group 2. Detectable serum calcitonin levels at last screening (P=0.0119) and stage IV disease (P=0.0145) were more frequent in group 1, than in the other groups. Our results suggest that, among the sporadic MTC, cases with RET mutations in exons 15 and 16 are associated with the worst prognosis. Cases with other RET mutations have the most indolent course, and those with no RET mutations have an intermediate risk.

Context Little is known about the frequency of key mutations in thyroid cancer metastases and its relationship with the primary tumor genotype. Objectives To evaluate the frequency of TERT promoter (TERTp), BRAF, and NRAS mutations in metastatic thyroid carcinomas, analyzing primary thyroid tumors, lymph node metastases (LNMs), and distant metastases. Design and Patients Mutation analysis was performed in 437 tissue samples from 204 patients, mainly with papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs; n = 180), including 196 LNMs and 56 distant metastases. All the distant metastases included corresponded to radioiodine-refractory metastatic tissue. Results We found the following mutation frequency in primary PTCs, LNMs, and distant metastases, respectively: TERTp: 12.9%, 10.5%, and 52.4%; BRAF: 44.6%, 41.7%, and 23.8%; and NRAS: 1.2%, 1.3%, and 14.3%. There was a significant concordance between the primary tumor genotype and the corresponding LNM for all the genes, in particular BRAF-mutated PTC. The overall concordance between primary tumors and respective distant metastases was low. In the group of patients with PTCs, we found a high frequency of TERTp mutations and a low frequency of BRAF mutations in distant metastases, in comparison with the paired primary tumors. When present in distant metastases, BRAF mutations frequently coexisted with TERTp mutations. Conclusions When the genotype of primary tumors is compared with the genotype of LNMs, the concordance is high for all the genes studied. On the other hand, distant metastases show an enrichment in TERTp mutations and a decrease in BRAF mutations. TERTp mutations may play a role in distant metastases.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATCs) are among the most lethal malignancies, for which there is no effective treatment. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular alterations contributing to ATC development and to identify novel therapeutic targets. We profiled the global gene expression of five ATCs and validated differentially expressed genes by quantitative RT-PCR in an independent set of tumors. In a series of 26 ATCs, we searched for pathogenic alterations in genes involved in the most deregulated cellular processes, including the hot spot regions of RAS, BRAF, TP53, CTNNB1 (β-catenin), and PIK3CA genes, and, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of components involved in the cell cycle [cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors (CDKI): CDKN1A (p21(CIP1)); CDKN1B (p27(KIP1)); CDKN2A (p14(ARF), p16(INK4A)); CDKN2B (p15(INK4B)); CDKN2C (p18(INK4C))], cell adhesion (AXIN1), and proliferation (PTEN). Mutational analysis was also performed in 22 poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas (PDTCs). Expression profiling revealed that ATCs were characterized by the underexpression of epithelial components and the up regulation of mesenchymal markers and genes from TGF-β pathway, as well as, the overexpression of cell cycle-related genes. In accordance, the up regulation of the SNAI2 gene, a TGF-β-responsive mesenchymal factor, was validated. CDKN3, which prevents the G1/S transition, was significantly up regulated in ATCs and PDTCs and aberrantly spliced in ATCs. Mutational analysis showed that most mutations were present in TP53 (42% of ATCs; 27% of PDTCs) or RAS (31% of ATCs; 18% of PDTCs). TP53 and RAS alterations showed evidence of mutual exclusivity (P = .0354). PIK3CA, PTEN, and CDKI mutations were present in 14%-20% of PDTCs, and in 10%-14% of ATCs. BRAF, CTNNB1, and AXIN1 mutations were rarely detected. Overall, this study identified crucial roles for TP53, RAS, CDKI, and TGF-β pathway, which may represent feasible therapeutic targets for ATC and PDTC treatment.

Twenty-five percent of medullary thyroid cancers (MTC) are familial and inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Three different phenotypes can be distinguished: multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 2A and 2B, in which the MTC is associated with other endocrine neoplasias, and familial MTC (FMTC), which occurs in isolation. The discovery that germline RET oncogene activating mutations are associated with 95–98% of MEN 2/FMTC syndromes and the availability of genotyping to identify mutations in affected patients and their relatives has revolutionized the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies available for the management of these patients. All patients with MTC, both those with a positive familial history and those apparently sporadic, should be submitted to RET genetic screening. Once an RET mutation has been confirmed in an index patient, first-degree relatives should be screened rapidly to identify the 50% who inherited the mutation and are therefore at risk for development of MTC. Relatives in whom no RET mutation is identified can be reassured and discharged from further follow-up, whereas RET-positive subjects (i.e. gene carriers) must be investigated and a therapeutic strategy initiated. These guideline recommendations are derived from the most recent studies identifying phenotype-genotype correlations following the discovery of causative RET gene mutations in MEN 2 eighteen years ago. Three major points will be discussed: (a) identification of patients and relatives who should have genetic screening for RET mutations, (b) management of asymptomatic gene carriers, and (c) ethics.