Deletion at chromosome arm 9p in relation to BRAF/NRAS mutations and prognostic significance for primary melanoma.
We report an investigation of gene dosage at 9p21.3 and mutations in BRAF and NRAS, as predictors of relapse and histological markers of poor melanoma prognosis. Formalin-fixed primary melanomas from 74 relapsed and 42 nonrelapsed patients were sequenced for common BRAF and NRAS mutations (N = 71 results) and gene dosage at 9p21.3 including the genes CDKN2A (which encodes CDKN2A and P14ARF), CDKN2B (CDKN2B), and MTAP was measured using multiplexed ligation-dependant probe amplification (MLPA), (N = 75 results). BRAF/NRAS mutations were detected in 77% of relapsers and 58% of nonrelapsers (Fisher's exact P = 0.17), and did not predict ulceration or mitotic rate. There was no relationship between BRAF/NRAS mutations and gene dosage at 9p21.3. Reduced gene dosage at MTAP showed a borderline association with BRAF mutation (P = 0.04) and reduced gene dosage at the interferon gene cluster was borderline associated with wild type NRAS (P = 0.05). Reduced gene dosage in the CDKN2A regions coding for CDKN2A was associated with an increased risk of relapse (P = 0.03). Reduced gene dosage across 9p21.3 was associated with increased tumor thickness, mitotic rate, and ulceration (P = 0.02, 0.02, and 0.002, respectively), specifically in coding regions impacting on CDKN2B and P14ARF and CDKN2A. Loss at MTAP (P = 0.05) and the interferon gene cluster (P = 0.03) on 9p21 was also associated with tumor ulceration. There was no association between reduced gene dosage at 9p21.3 and subtype or site of tumor. This study presents supportive evidence that CDKN2B, P14ARF, and CDKN2A may all play a tumor suppressor role in melanoma progression.
Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Caroline
C
Conway
Samantha
S
Beswick
Faye
F
Elliott
Yu-Mei
YM
Chang
Juliette
J
Randerson-Moor
Mark
M
Harland
Paul
P
Affleck
Jerry
J
Marsden
D Scott
DS
Sanders
Andy
A
Boon
Margaret A
MA
Knowles
D Timothy
DT
Bishop
Julia A
JA
Newton-Bishop
D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002899:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D050762:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 / Q000235:genetics; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018628:Gene Dosage; D011905:Genes, ras; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D011379:Prognosis; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D011683:Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / Q000235:genetics
C493966:CDKN2B protein, human; D050762:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF; D011683:Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylase; C021784:5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf