BRAFwild papillary thyroid carcinoma has two distinct mRNA expression patterns with different clinical behaviors

Background Using a large set of genomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we classified BRAFwild papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) into 2 subtypes with distinct molecular patterns and different clinical behaviors. We also suggested gene signatures (RAS‐score) to predict molecular subtypes and clinical behaviors of BRAFwild PTC. Method Integrated genomic analysis was done using all genomic data of PTC in TCGA data portal (https://tcga‐data.nci.nih.gov) and cancer browser (https://genome‐cancer.ucsc.edu). Using Gene Ontology and a logistic regression test, we selected gene signatures (RAS‐score) and applied this prediction model to the validation cohort (GSE60542). Result When we performed multiplatform genomic analysis, BRAFwild PTCs were divided into 2 molecular subtypes. Each subtype showed distinct molecular patterns and clinical behaviors. Gene signatures successfully predicted molecular subtype in another validation cohort. Conclusion We found that BRAFwild PTCs were divided into 2 molecular subtypes and each subtype showed distinct molecular patterns, different activated pathways, and different clinical behaviors.