Allele frequency in thyroid cancer: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy

Abstract Allele Frequency (AF) is the percentage of sequence reads with a specific mutation relative to the read depth at that locus, reflecting the proportion of gene mutation. This review explores the AF characteristics of different mutations in thyroid cancer, investigating their connection with...

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Main Authors: Jiayu Huang, Jiazhi Wang, Guangzhi Wang, Yongfu Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Thyroid Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-025-00237-8
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author Jiayu Huang
Jiazhi Wang
Guangzhi Wang
Yongfu Zhao
author_facet Jiayu Huang
Jiazhi Wang
Guangzhi Wang
Yongfu Zhao
author_sort Jiayu Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Allele Frequency (AF) is the percentage of sequence reads with a specific mutation relative to the read depth at that locus, reflecting the proportion of gene mutation. This review explores the AF characteristics of different mutations in thyroid cancer, investigating their connection with tumor features and clinical characteristics. BRAF mutation AF is associated with tumour malignancy and prognosis, exhibiting a relatively low peak value. TERT mutations in AF are associated with invasive characteristics, and the combination between BRAF and TERT mutations AF improved the diagnostic value in identifying patients' risk of recurrence and tumour malignancy. RET mutation is frequently observed in medullary carcinoma, and RET mutation AF is associated with partial tumour characteristics. RAS mutation is prevalent in follicular tumors, but the association between RAS mutation AF and tumour characteristics is relatively weak. TP53 mutation is more frequently occurred in poorly differentiated and anaplastic carcinoma, and its AF might be associated with the dedifferentiation process. We also concentrated on the mutually exclusive and synergistic effect between different mutations. The mutation rate of TERT increases with the elevation of BRAF mutation AF. Finally, the detection and assessment of AF by NGS in clinical practice helps to provide a reference for individualised targeted therapy plans.
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series Thyroid Research
spelling doaj-art-b98ed2a1cbb14b4d9ce3a5102984247c2025-08-20T03:53:11ZengBMCThyroid Research1756-66142025-05-0118111210.1186/s13044-025-00237-8Allele frequency in thyroid cancer: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapyJiayu Huang0Jiazhi Wang1Guangzhi Wang2Yongfu Zhao3Department of Thyroid Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityAbstract Allele Frequency (AF) is the percentage of sequence reads with a specific mutation relative to the read depth at that locus, reflecting the proportion of gene mutation. This review explores the AF characteristics of different mutations in thyroid cancer, investigating their connection with tumor features and clinical characteristics. BRAF mutation AF is associated with tumour malignancy and prognosis, exhibiting a relatively low peak value. TERT mutations in AF are associated with invasive characteristics, and the combination between BRAF and TERT mutations AF improved the diagnostic value in identifying patients' risk of recurrence and tumour malignancy. RET mutation is frequently observed in medullary carcinoma, and RET mutation AF is associated with partial tumour characteristics. RAS mutation is prevalent in follicular tumors, but the association between RAS mutation AF and tumour characteristics is relatively weak. TP53 mutation is more frequently occurred in poorly differentiated and anaplastic carcinoma, and its AF might be associated with the dedifferentiation process. We also concentrated on the mutually exclusive and synergistic effect between different mutations. The mutation rate of TERT increases with the elevation of BRAF mutation AF. Finally, the detection and assessment of AF by NGS in clinical practice helps to provide a reference for individualised targeted therapy plans.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-025-00237-8Thyroid carcinomaAllele frequencyBRAF V600E mutationTERT mutationRAS mutation
spellingShingle Jiayu Huang
Jiazhi Wang
Guangzhi Wang
Yongfu Zhao
Allele frequency in thyroid cancer: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy
Thyroid Research
Thyroid carcinoma
Allele frequency
BRAF V600E mutation
TERT mutation
RAS mutation
title Allele frequency in thyroid cancer: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy
title_full Allele frequency in thyroid cancer: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy
title_fullStr Allele frequency in thyroid cancer: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy
title_full_unstemmed Allele frequency in thyroid cancer: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy
title_short Allele frequency in thyroid cancer: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy
title_sort allele frequency in thyroid cancer mechanisms challenges and applications in cancer therapy
topic Thyroid carcinoma
Allele frequency
BRAF V600E mutation
TERT mutation
RAS mutation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13044-025-00237-8
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