Human cutaneous melanoma; a review of NRAS and BRAF mutation frequencies in relation to histogenetic subclass and body site

Platz, Anton; Egyhazi, Suzanne; Ringborg, Ulrik; Hansson, Johan

doi:10.1016/j.molonc.2007.12.003

« Previous Next »Molecular Oncology
Volume 1, Issue 4 , Pages 395-405, April 2008

Human cutaneous melanoma; a review of NRAS and BRAF mutation frequencies in relation to histogenetic subclass and body site

Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm S-17176, Sweden

Received 27 November 2007; received in revised form 17 December 2007; accepted 19 December 2007. published online 13 February 2008.

Abstract

A majority of cutaneous melanomas show activating mutations in the NRAS or BRAF proto-oncogenes, components of the Ras-Raf-Mek-Erk signal transduction pathway. Consistent data demonstrate the early appearance, in a mutually exclusive manner, of these mutations. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the literature on NRAS and BRAF activating mutations in melanoma tumors with respect to available data on histogenetic classification as well as body site and presumed UV-exposure. Common alterations of the signal transducing network seem to represent molecular hallmarks of cutaneous melanomas and therefore should continue to strongly stimulate design and testing of targeted molecular interventions.

Keywords: Malignant melanoma, NRAS, BRAF, Mutation, Classification, Sunlight, UV-radiation