Absence of BRAF gene mutations in uveal melanomas in contrast to cutaneous melanomas

S C Edmunds; I A Cree; F Dí Nícolantonío; J L Hungerford; J S Hurren; D P Kelsell

doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6600919

Absence of BRAF gene mutations in uveal melanomas in contrast to cutaneous melanomas

Br J Cancer. 2003 May 6;88(9):1403-5. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600919.

Authors

S C Edmunds¹, I A Cree, F Dí Nícolantonío, J L Hungerford, J S Hurren, D P Kelsell

Affiliation

¹ Centre for Cutaneous Research, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, 2 Newark Street, Whitechapel E1 2AT, UK.

Abstract

The recent discovery of activating mutations in the BRAF gene in many cutaneous melanomas led us to screen the genomic sequence of BRAF exons 11 and 15 in a series of 48 intraocular (uveal) melanomas, together with control samples from three cutaneous melanomas and the SK-Mel-28 cell line, which has a BRAF mutation. The same mutation was detected in two-thirds of our cutaneous melanoma samples, but was not present in any uveal melanomas. This finding further underlines the distinction between uveal and cutaneous melanomas, and suggests that BRAF inhibitors are unlikely to benefit patients with uveal melanoma.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Base Sequence
DNA Primers
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
Exons*
High Mobility Group Proteins
Humans
Melanoma / genetics*
Melanoma / pathology
Mutation*
Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
Skin Neoplasms / pathology
Tumor Cells, Cultured
Uveal Neoplasms / genetics*
Uveal Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

DNA Primers
DNA-Binding Proteins
HMG20B protein, human
High Mobility Group Proteins
Oncogene Proteins
BRAF protein, human
Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf