title: Mutations of the BRAF gene in benign and malignant melanocytic lesions.
abstract: A single-point mutation in exon 15 of the BRAF gene has recently been reported in a high percentage in cultured melanoma cells and in 6 of 9 primary melanomas examined. To evaluate the impact of the T1796A BRAF mutation, we screened primary melanomas, various types of nevi and lesions where a melanoma developed in an underlying nevus. We could detect the mutation in 28 of 97 (29%) melanomas and in 39 of 187 (21%) nevi, including blue nevi (0/20) and Spitz nevi (0/69), which did not carry the mutation. In melanomas with an underlying nevus, either the mutation was present in both the laser-microdissected nevus cells and the laser-microdissected melanoma cells (3/14) or both lesions were negative for the BRAF mutation except one case. In conclusion, mutations in exon 15 of the BRAF gene are nonspecific for progression of a nevus to a melanoma. Other so far unknown cofactors seem to be of importance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Amir S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Yazdi
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmedo
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Flaig
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Puchta
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reckwerth
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rütten
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mentzel
authors.forename: Heino
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hügel
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hantschke
authors.forename: Monika-Hildegard
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Schmid-Wendtner
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kutzner
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sander
mesh_terms: D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009506:Nevus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017354:Point Mutation; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf