BRAF, a serine-threonine kinase, is, like KRAS, part of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signalling pathway. BRAF activating mutations are present in melanomas, papillary thyroid cancers, testicular, ovarian and colorectal cancers.
Most common of BRAF activating somatic mutations is V600E mutation. Tumors with this mutation exhibit poor response to anti-EGFR therapy but may be sensitive to selctive inhibitors of BRAF.
BRAF-MMD-PCR Mutation Test Kit enables detection of V600E mutation in b-raf gene against a background of wild-type genomic DNA.
The GeneFirst OncoPlex® BRAF Mutation Test Kit (RUO) is a real-time PCR-based test that detects 5 activating mutations in the human BRAF gene with high sensitivity. This test is based on the GeneFirst proprietary technology, MMD, which is a combination of specially designed mutation-specific primers, blocker-probe and unique cycling conditions that facilitate selective amplification of multiple mutant alleles – at the same time, blocking amplification from wild type (normal) allele. This allows for the detection of rare mutations against a high background of normal, non-mutated genomic DNA.
