Mutation rates in main tumour driver genes predict prognosis in patients with superficial spreading or nodular primary melanoma: results from the CARAMEL study by the Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI)

Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) and nodular melanoma (NM) are the two histotypes that account for most cutaneous primary melanomas. We evaluated the mutational status for the genes underlying melanomagenesis among a series of SSMs and NMs from different Italian geographical areas. An increased number of mutated melanoma-driver genes was found to occur in both histological subtypes, with no specific mutational pattern distinctive for SSM and NM lesions, being significantly associated to shorter progression-free survival and poorer overall survival.