Comprehensive Transcriptomic and Genomic Profiling of Subtypes of Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Among subtypes of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC), encapsulated FVPTC (EFVPTC) shows more indolent behavior than infiltrative FVPTC (IFVPTC). In particular, noninvasive EFVPTC, now designated as noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP), tends to have an excellent prognosis. However, it remains unclear whether the molecular pathogenesis or signature of the various forms of FVPTC is different. By massively parallel sequencing analysis, this study comprehensively characterized the transcriptional and mutational landscape of FVPTC and established correlations with phenotypic subtypes.

METHODS

This study included 48 FVPTCs: 17 NIFTPs, 13 invasive EFVPTCs (I-EFVPTCs), and 18 IFVPTCs. For comparison, 55 classical papillary thyroid carcinomas (cPTCs) harboring a BRAF mutation, six follicular adenomas (FAs), and 15 minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinomas (miFTCs) with RAS mutations were also included.

RESULTS

In NIFTP, the BRAF mutation was not found, but RAS and other alterations were present in 64.7% and 17.6% of cases, respectively. However, in I-EFVPTC and IFVPTC, the proportions of BRAF mutation (38.5% and 38.9%, respectively) and of RAS mutations (38.5% and 38.9%, respectively) or other alterations (15.4% and 16.7%, respectively) were similar. On a molecular level, RAS-mutated FVPTCs were all RAS-like except for one IFVPTC case. Transcriptomic profiles of NIFTP, I-EFVPTC, and FA/miFTC were comparable, although the profile of RAS-mutated IFVPTC was altered to activate molecular pathways involved in cell adhesion and invasion. Interestingly, 80% of BRAF-mutated I-EFVPTCs were also classified as RAS-like, whereas all BRAF-mutated IFVPTCs were BRAF-like and indistinguishable from cPTC. Molecular pathways associated with cell adhesion and invasion were also differentially activated in BRAF-mutated IFVPTC.

CONCLUSIONS

Molecular profiles of NIFTP and I-EFVPTC may be shared with FA/miFTC, while IFVPTC seems to be associated with a similar profile as cPTC. Activation of cell adhesion and invasion pathways may play a key role in the development of invasive phenotypes of FVPTC.