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Updated: May 2, 2026

Next Generation Sequencing for the Detection of Actionable Mutations in Solid and Liquid Tumors
Published on: September 20, 2016
BRAF-mutations in non-small cell lung cancer
Odd Terje Brustugun1, Asma Malik Khattak2, Anette Kjoshagen Trømborg2
1Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
BRAF-mutation testing is crucial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, revealing a 1.7% mutation frequency. This analysis aids in identifying patients who may benefit from targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Genetics
Background:
- Targeted therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) now include BRAF inhibitors.
- Identifying BRAF mutations is essential for patient stratification and treatment selection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the clinicopathological characteristics of BRAF V600E/K mutations in a large cohort of unselected NSCLC patients.
- To assess the frequency and clinical relevance of BRAF mutations in NSCLC.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 979 unselected NSCLC patients tested for EGFR mutations.
- BRAF V600E/K mutations were detected using a PCR-based method.
- Data collected from Oslo University Hospital between February 2011 and July 2013.
Main Results:
- A BRAF mutation frequency of 1.7% was observed in the total NSCLC cohort (979 patients).
- The frequency was higher in adenocarcinomas (2.3% of 646 patients) and absent in squamous cell carcinomas (0% of 231 patients).
- Notably, 29% of BRAF-positive patients were never-smokers, and co-mutations (KRAS, ALK) were rare.
Conclusions:
- BRAF mutation analysis should be integrated into the routine subtyping of non-squamous NSCLC.
- This testing can identify a subset of NSCLC patients eligible for BRAF-targeted therapies.
- Findings support the clinical utility of BRAF mutation testing in NSCLC management.
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