Ewha Med J.  2014 Mar;37(1):30-35. 10.12771/emj.2014.37.1.30.

Prevalence of BRAF and NRAS Mutations and a Comparative Analysis in Primary and Metastatic Melanoma of Korean Patients

• Choi DY
• Lee SP
• Park S

• KMID: 2171271
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2014.37.1.30

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study is to verify the status and the clinical significance of BRAF and NRAS mutations in patients of one of the university hospitals in Korea.
METHODS
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and direct sequencing were performed for the analysis of melanoma samples (n=22) for the detection of mutations in exon 15 of the BRAF gene, and exons 2 and 3 of the NRAS gene in genomic DNA. Mutations of the BRAF gene were correlated with the clinicopathologic features of patients and the BRAF mutation status was compared in 18 paired primary and metastatic tumors.
RESULTS
Incidence of somatic mutations within the BRAF and NRAS genes was 27.3% (6/22) and 0% (0/22), respectively. Age, gender, Breslow thickness, and ulceration did not show correlation with BRAF mutations. Among 18 patients with metastasis, BRAF mutation was detected in 22.2% of cases (4/18), and all four cases with BRAF mutations were identified in metastatic lymph node tissues. BRAF mutations were only found in lymph node metastases, which was statistically significant (28.6% vs 0%, P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
The incidence of BRAF mutation is as low as in other Asian reports and the NRAS mutation was not found in patients of our institute.

Keyword

BRAF; NRAS; Melanoma; Metastasis

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
DNA
Exons
Hospitals, University
Humans
Incidence
Korea
Lymph Nodes
Melanoma*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prevalence*
Ulcer
DNA

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