1. Vulvar and vaginal melanoma: A unique subclass of mucosal melanoma based on a comprehensive molecular analysis of 51 cases compared with 2253 cases of nongynecologic melanoma
- Author
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Rebecca Feldman, Sudeshna Chatterjee-Paer, Caitlin Baptiste, Jason D. Wright, Ana I. Tergas, Radhika Bangalore Hombalegowda, Nathaniel L. Jones, June Y. Hou, Ama Bus-Kwolfski, and William M. Burke
- Subjects
Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog ,Cancer Research ,business.industry ,Melanoma ,Mucosal melanoma ,Cancer ,medicine.disease ,030207 dermatology & venereal diseases ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Oncology ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Progesterone receptor ,medicine ,Cancer research ,Vaginal Melanoma ,ERCC1 ,business ,Vulvar melanoma - Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimal treatments for vulvar and vaginal melanomas (VVMs) have not been identified. Herein, the authors compare molecular profiles between VVM and nongynecologic melanoma (NGM) subtypes with the objective of identifying novel, targetable biomarkers. METHODS In total, 2304 samples of malignant melanoma that were submitted to Caris Life Sciences between 2009 and 2015 were reviewed. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to assess copy numbers and protein expression of selected genes. Sequenced variants were analyzed using a proprietary cancer panel. RESULTS In total, 51 VVMs (14 vaginal and 37 vulvar melanomas) were compared with 2253 malignant NGMs, including 2127 cutaneous, 105 mucosal, and 21 acral melanomas. In VVMs, B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) was the most frequently mutated gene (26%) compared with 8.3% of mucosal NGMs (P = .008). In BRAF-mutated tumors, fewer VVMs (50%), compared with NGMs (82.1%), had a variant within the valine codon 600 (V600) domain. The KIT mutation rate was highest in VVMs (22%) compared with 3% in cutaneous (P
- Published
- 2016