BRAF Mutations

BRAF gene mutations are found in many different cancers, the highest incidence being found in malignant melanoma, papillary thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer and serous ovarian cancer. Approximately 40-60% of melanomas contain a mutation in the gene that encodes for BRAF. This has led to the development of melanoma therapies that specifically inhibit the mutant BRAF. The presence of the activating V600E BRAF mutation in a tumour indicates poor prognosis in colorectal cancer, and possibly also in other cancer types such as thyroid and lung cancers.