The Different Expression of BRAF(V600E) Mutation in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas Coexisting with or without Benign Thyroid Nodules / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: BRAF(V600E) mutation is the most common genetic alteration in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and has been associated with poor prognostic factors. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the frequency of the BRAF mutation in PTC with and without benign thyroid nodules (BN). METHODS: 98 DNA samples were extracted from frozen tissues of 51 PTC and 47 BN specimens of 70 patients and were divided into four group: PTC with BN, PTC alone, BN with PTC and BN alone group. We investigated the BRAF mutation by sequencing and clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: Total positive rate of BRAF mutation was 23.5% in the two PTC groups. That rate of the PTC with BN group was 10.7% and the PTC alone group was 39.1%. Positive rate in the PTC with BN group was lesser than the PTC alone group and had statistically difference (P=0.02). The positive rate of BRAF mutation was 7.1% in the BN with PTC group and 5.3% in the BN alone group. Positive rate in these two group was not statistically different (P=0.80). CONCLUSION: The frequency of BRAF mutation in PTC with concurrent BN was lower than in PTC alone. This result suggests that the effect of BRAF mutation is lesser associated with PTCs with BN than PTC alone group.

Endoscopic Thyroidectomy in Thyroid Cancer / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Endoscopic surgery to treat thyroid neoplasm was developed to solve the aesthetic problems that resulted from conventional open surgery. Although endoscopic thyroidectomy was initially performed in patients with benign thyroid neoplasm, its use has recently been extended to patients with Graves's disease and early cases of thyroid cancer.The purpose of this study was to determine whether this surgical approach is feasible and safe for the treatment of thyroid cancer. METHODS: Between December 1999 and April 2006, 132 thyroid cancer patients at our institution were treated by either conventional thyroidectomy or endoscopic thyroidectomy. Endoscopic thyroidectomy was conducted using a gasless anterior neck skin lifting method. The inclusion criteria for endoscopic thyroidectomy in thyroid cancer patients included a tumor size of less than 2cm, absence of extrathyroidal extension, absence of cervical lymph node metastasis, and well differentiated cancers. RESULTS: We performed endoscopic thyroidectomy in 29 thyroid cancer patients. There were no significant differences in operative time, the amount of drainage and the number of retrieved lymph nodes between conventional thyroidectomy and endoscopic thyroidectomy. In addition, although endoscopic thyroidectomy was associated with more complications, it was also associated with a shorter hospital stay. CONCLUSION: The completeness of surgical resection conducted via an endoscopic thyroidectomy may be comparable to that of conventional surgery, however, a larger series and longer follow-up evaluation are necessary for definitive conclusions to be drawn about its oncologic validity.

Clinical Significance of Epstein-Barr Virus Expression in Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is well understood as an oncogenic virus in human tumors. Its association with breast cancers has been reported but is still in controversy. So we have examined the expression of EBV in breast cancers and evaluated the relationship between the well-known prognositc factors of breast cancer and EBV expression. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with patients who had been re-evaluated to confirm the diagnosis based on immunohistochemical analysis with EBNA-2 expression, between January 1991 and December 2002. The cases were assigned to the positive lesion that displayed 10% or more of immunoreactive cells. RESULTS: The expressions of EBNA-2(Ebstein Barr virus nuclear antigen - 2) were noted in 26 (21.1%) out of 123 cases of breast cancer patients and 4 (20%) out of 20 cases in a control group of benign tumors. The expression of EBV in breast cancers and that of a control group were not different significantly. But, the correlation between the expression of EBNA-2 and ER status was noted statistically significant (P=0.040). CONCLUSION: Judging from the results of our study, EBV infection detected in breast cancer seems to be latent and the association of EBV to breast cancer is less likely related.