title: Prognostic value of BRAF mutations in localized cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  BRAF mutations are frequent in melanoma but their prognostic significance remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to further evaluate the prognostic value of BRAF mutations in localized cutaneous melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook an observational retrospective study of 147 patients with localized invasive (stages I and II) cutaneous melanomas to determine the prognostic value of BRAF mutation status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a median follow-up of 48 months, patients with localized melanomas with BRAF-mutant melanomas exhibited poorer disease-free survival than those with BRAF-wt genotype (hazard ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.3) even after adjustment for Breslow thickness, tumor ulceration, location, age, sex, and tumor mitotic rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The retrospective design and the small number of events are limitations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that reappraisal of clinical treatment approaches for patients with localized melanoma harboring tumors with BRAF mutation might be warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain; Universidad Católica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: eduardo_nagore@ono.com.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagore
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Requena
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Traves
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guillen
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Computational Biology Department, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.affiliation: Population Health Department, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Whiteman
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Computational Biology Department, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia; Center for Research Excellence in Sun and Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hacker
mesh_terms: D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
keywords: BRAF; NRAS; localized; melanoma; prognosis; survival