Can different genetic changes characterize histogenetic subtypes and biologic behavior in sporadic malignant melanoma...

In sporadic malignant melanoma, different chromosomal regions with nonrandom aberrations have been discovered, including 1p36, 6q, 9p and 10q. First results provide a genetic basis for the concept of primarily vertical, biologically aggressive melanomas and radial growing, mostly benign melanomas. These are mainly represented by nodular melanoma (NM) and early superficial spreading melanoma (SSM), respectively. Deletions in 1p36 could be found only in NMs and metastatic melanoma. Aberrations of chromosome 10 occur predominantly in NMs, whereas deletions on chromosome 9 are more frequent in SSMs. Despite a variety of genes tested, neither a tumor suppressor gene with importance in all malignant melanomas of the skin nor one clearly defining the transition from the radial growth phase to the vertical growth phase has been determined. Nevertheless, the pattern of genetic alterations may soon lead to finding such genes and development of drugs targeting these genes or their products, which would be of great benefit to melanoma patients.