Analysis of BRAF mutation in primary and metastatic melanoma.
Mutation of BRAF has been proposed to contribute to melanoma development. However, it remains unclear whether or not BRAF mutation is associated with any particular stage of melanoma progression. Tumor biopsy specimens from patients with melanoma were analyzed to determine whether the frequency of BRAF mutation in metastatic melanoma differed from primary melanoma. BRAF mutation was present in 15 of 23 (61%) patients with primary melanoma and in 7 of 12 (58%) patients with metastatic melanoma. These results suggest that BRAF mutation in melanoma is most likely to occur prior to the development of metastatic disease.
Libra
Massimo
M
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. mlibra@unict.it
Malaponte
Grazia
G
Navolanic
Patrick M
PM
Gangemi
Pietro
P
Bevelacqua
Valentina
V
Proietti
Lidia
L
Bruni
Bibiana
B
Stivala
Franca
F
Mazzarino
Maria C
MC
Travali
Salvatore
S
McCubrey
James A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*
C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf