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Afirma BRAF malignancy classifier effective for identifying V600E mutation
Veracyte’s Afirma RNA-based classifier was effective at detecting BRAF V600E mutations with high diagnostic accuracy, according to a release from the company.
Papillary thyroid cancer is often predicted by BRAF V600E mutations. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies may be effective in identifying the mutation in thyroid nodules and can help physicians better assess risks for cancer as well as determine the most effective surgical strategy.
“We believe these data should provide physicians with confidence that our Afirma BRAF test provides an excellent option to help them define surgical strategy for relevant thyroid nodule patients,” Bonnie Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Veracyte, said in a press release. “For those patients who are headed to surgery based on initial cytopathology or results from the Afirma Gene Expression Classifier (GEC), our Afirma BRAF test can have an impact by helping to better inform the most appropriate surgical strategy without the need for an additional FNA.”
James Diggans, PhD, of Veracyte, Inc., and colleagues evaluated 535 FNA samples using the Afirma RNA-based classifier and a sensitive standard PCR DNA-based test to determine the accuracy of each for identifying the presence or absence of BRAF V600E DNA mutation.
The researchers found that Afirma BRAF accurately identified BRAF V600E with equal performance but with a lower non-diagnositic rate (7.6%) than the DNA-based test (24.5%).
Afirma BRAF was also found to have broader clinical utility because it has the ability to detect other BRAF mutations besides V600E.
“Preoperative treatment decisions that may be affected by the presence of BRAF V600E may include extent of thyroidectomy (hemi- vs. total), performance of central neck dissection, and administration of radioactive iodine,” the researchers wrote. “The ability of Afirma BRAF to accurately detect V600E status may assist physicians in making these treatment decisions and potentially improve patient care.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: Diggans in an employee of Veracyte, Inc.