RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Clinical Significance of BRAF Gene Mutations in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 4619 OP 4623 VO 31 IS 12 A1 MASASHI KOBAYASHI A1 MAKOTO SONOBE A1 TSUYOSHI TAKAHASHI A1 AKIHIKO YOSHIZAWA A1 MASASHI ISHIKAWA A1 RYUTARO KIKUCHI A1 KENICHI OKUBO A1 CHENG-LONG HUANG A1 HIROSHI DATE YR 2011 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/31/12/4619.abstract AB Background: V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) mutations are attractive molecular targets for cancer treatment. Detection of BRAF gene mutation and analyses in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are of great scientific interest. Patients and Methods: The study included 581 NSCLC patients (377 males, 204 female) undergoing pulmonary resection. BRAF gene mutations were screened using the PCR-SSCP method and were confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. Mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), v-erb-b2 erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2 (ERBB2), and v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) gene were also analyzed. Results: Five patients (0.8%) had BRAF mutations within exon 15. In 581 NSCLC patients, EGFR gene mutations within exons 18 to 21 were detected in 191 (32.8%) patients, KRAS codon 12 mutations in 56 (9.6%) patients, and ERBB2 codon 20 mutations in 11 (1.8%) patients. All mutations were mutually exclusive. The NSCLC patients with BRAF mutations were proved to be men who were heavy smokers. Conclusions: PCR-SSCP analysis of BRAF exon 15 in NSCLC patients without other gene mutations may be sufficient to identify candidates for treatment.