Mutational status of naevus-associated melanomas.

BACKGROUND: The origin of melanoma has always been a debated subject, as well as the role of adjacent melanocytic naevi. Epidemiological and histopathological studies point to melanomas arising either de novo or from a naevus. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the presence of mutations in genes from well-known melanomagenesis pathways in a large series of naevus-associated melanomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one melanomas found in association with a pre-existing naevus were microdissected, after careful selection of cell subpopulations, and submitted to Sanger sequencing of the BRAF, NRAS, c-KIT, PPP6C, STK19 and RAC1 genes. Each gene was evaluated twice in all samples by sequencing or by sequencing and another confirmation method, allele-specific fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and capillary electrophoresis detection or by SNaPshot analysis. Only mutations confirmed via two different molecular methods or twice by sequencing were considered positive. RESULTS: The majority of cases presented concordance of mutational status between melanoma and the associated naevus for all six genes (40 of 60; 66.7%). Nine cases presented concomitant BRAF and NRAS mutations, including one case in which both the melanoma and the adjacent naevus harboured V600E and Q61K double mutations. In two cases, both melanoma and associated naevus located on acral sites were BRAF mutated, including an acral lentiginous melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the largest naevus-associated melanoma series evaluated molecularly. The majority of melanomas and adjacent naevi in our sample share the same mutational profile, corroborating the theory that the adjacent naevus and melanoma are clonally related and that the melanoma originated within a naevus.

Dermoscopic criteria associated with BRAF and NRAS mutation status in primary cutaneous melanoma.

BACKGROUND: The identification of BRAF mutations in melanoma led to the development and implementation of new and effective therapies. Few clinical and histological features have been associated with this mutational status. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to investigate clinical, histopathological and dermoscopic characteristics of primary melanomas according to BRAF or NRAS mutational status. METHODS: An observational retrospective study including melanoma dermoscopy images assessed for somatic mutations in BRAF and NRAS. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were included, 30 women (42%) and 42 men (58%), mean age was 59 ± 15.51 years. BRAF-mutated melanomas were more frequently located on the trunk (n = 18, 64% for BRAF-mutated vs. n = 11, 29% for wild-type melanomas, P = 0.013). Histological ulceration was associated with the presence of BRAF mutations [odds ratio (OR) 3.141; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.289-7.655; P = 0.002]. The Breslow index tended to be thicker in BRAF-mutated compared with wild-type (P = 0.086). BRAF mutations were present in 28 (39%) patients and only four cases were positive for NRAS mutations (6%), BRAF and NRAS mutations being mutually exclusive. The presence of dermoscopic peppering was associated with MAPK mutations (BRAF and NRAS) (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.089-2.581; P = 0.015). Dermoscopic ulceration was also associated with BRAF mutations excluding acral and facial melanomas (OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.032-6.754). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a correlation between BRAF and NRAS status and dermoscopic findings of 'peppering' as an expression of regression and melanophages in the dermis, suggesting a morphological consequence of immune behaviour in BRAF-mutated melanomas.

CDKN2A mutations in melanoma families from Uruguay.

BACKGROUND: Familial melanoma, a cluster of several cases within a single family, accounts for approximately 10% of cases of melanoma. Hereditary melanoma is defined as two or more first-degree relatives having melanoma. A member of a melanoma-prone family has a 35-70-fold increased relative risk of developing a melanoma. Genetic susceptibility is linked to the major susceptibility genes CDKN2A and CDK4, and the minor susceptibility gene MC1R. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical and genetic characteristics of cutaneous melanoma in melanoma-prone families from Uruguay. METHODS: We studied 13 individuals from six melanoma-prone families living in Uruguay. Phenotype, familial and personal history were recorded. Molecular screening of CDKN2A and CDK4 was done by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism analysis. The MC1R gene was sequenced. RESULTS: Mutations in CDKN2A were detected in five of six families: c.-34G>T, p.G101W and p.E88X. A novel germline mutation p.E88X, associated with hereditary melanoma in two unrelated families, is described. We hypothesize that a founder effect occurred probably in the Mediterranean region. No mutations in CDK4 were detected. Six different MC1R variants, all previously reported, were present in Uruguayan families. CONCLUSIONS: The overall rate of deleterious CDKN2A mutations in our familial melanoma pedigrees, even though the sample size is small, was considerably higher (83%) than the often quoted range.