title: Absence of BRAF gene mutation in non-melanoma skin tumors.
abstract: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, and its incidence is increasing. It was proposed that the RAS oncogene significantly contributes to skin cancer development. Numerous BRAF mutations have been detected in melanoma biopsy specimens and cell lines. For the first time, in the present study, tumor biopsy specimens from 78 patients with BCC were screened for BRAF mutation within exons 11 and 15. Our results indicate that the BRAF gene does not appear to be frequently mutated in nonmelanoma skin tumors such as BCC. These data suggest that other gene alterations may cause tumor development.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania, Italy. mlibra@unict.it
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Libra
authors: Grazia
authors: G
authors: Malaponte
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Bevelacqua
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Siciliano
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Castrogiovanni
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Fulvi
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Micali
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Ligresti
authors: Maria C
authors: MC
authors: Mazzarino
authors: Franca
authors: F
authors: Stivala
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Travali
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: McCubrey