Molecular characterization and patient outcome of melanoma nodal metastases and an unknown primary site.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Melanoma of unknown primary site (MUP) is not a completely understood entity with nodal metastases as the most common first clinical manifestation. The aim of this multicentric study was to assess frequency and type of oncogenic BRAF/NRAS/KIT mutations in MUP with clinically detected nodal metastases in relation to clinicopathologic features and outcome.

Materials and methods

We analyzed series of 103 MUP patients (period: 1992-2010) after therapeutic lymphadenectomy (LND): 40 axillary, 47 groin, 16 cervical, none treated with BRAF inhibitors. We performed molecular characterization of BRAF/NRAS/KIT mutational status in nodal metastases using direct sequencing of respective coding sequences. Median follow-up time was 53 months.

Results

BRAF mutations were d

SUBMITTER: Gos A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4218979 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature