title: Metaanalysis of BRAF mutations and clinicopathologic characteristics in primary melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  BRAF mutations occur in some melanomas. We hypothesized that BRAF mutation rates may differ in melanomas found in Asian compared to white populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We performed a metaanalysis of BRAF mutations and their associations with the clinicopathologic characteristics of primary melanoma (PM), with a subgroup analysis to compare Asian and white patients with PM.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched up to November 2013. The incidence rates and odds ratios (ORs) of BRAF mutations were calculated using a fixed or random effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BRAF mutation was associated with younger age (OR = 1.734; P < .001), trunk location (OR = 2.272; P < .001), non-chronically sun damaged skin (OR = 2.833; P < .001), superficial spreading melanoma (OR = 2.081; P < .001), and advanced melanoma stage (OR = 1.551; P = .003). The incidence of BRAF mutations in Asian patients with PM was half that of white patients with PM, but it was linked to the same clinicopathologic characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only a small number of studies have been conducted on Asian patients with PMs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BRAF mutation in PM was associated with age, anatomic site based on ultraviolet radiation exposure, histologic subtype, and advanced stage of melanoma. The clinicopathologic associations with BRAF mutations were similar in Asian and white patients with PM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Nyung
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: 20050078@kuh.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yang Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Beom
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Joong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
chemical_list: C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
keywords: Asians; BRAF mutation; melanoma; metaanalysis; race; systematic review