Key candidate genes associated with BRAF^V600E in papillary thyroid carcinoma on microarray analysis

The mechanisms of B-type Raf kinase (BRAF) V600E mutation in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remain to be elucidated. With the aim to investigate the key candidate genes distinctive to BRAF^V600E -PTC, we analyzed the transcriptomics data from three microarray datasets (GSE27155, GSE54958, and GSE58545) and identified 491 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between BRAF^V600E -PTC and BRAF^{wild type} -PTC. Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed that negative regulation of wound healing may be involved in the BRAF^V600E -related pathogenesis in PTC. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis revealed BRAF^V600E -related coexpressed genes in PTC, from which hub genes were selected. The intersection of DEGs and hub genes revealed 31 candidates, wherein GRB7, SNAP25, SLC35F2, FAM155B, HGD, and ITPR1 were rendered the key candidate genes via receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. On further characterization, the six key genes displayed significantly different expression patterns at different cytomorphology, however, with no significant difference in overall survival. These results provide novel insights into the key genes distinctive to of BRAF^V600E in PTC and might be suggestive as therapeutic targets for further application.