Genetic alterations in signaling pathways in melanoma

Alterations in the RAS signaling cascade are almost uniformly present in melanoma. RAS itself is only infrequently mutated in melanoma although downstream of RAS lie BRAF on the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and PTEN on the protein kinase B/Akt pathway. These genes are often altered in melanomas; indeed, the most frequent target of mutation in melanomas is BRAF, which is mutated in approximately 60% to 70% of superficial spreading melanomas. These mutations occur in a background that is not normal, with the CDKN2A locus also typically being mutated. We review herein the data that suggest that the distribution of the signaling mutations is important. In general, melanomas carry a mutated NRAS, a mutated BRAF, or concurrent BRAF and PTEN mutations. These data support the hypothesis that the biochemical functions of RAS are portioned by mutations in the pathways lying downstream. Moreover, these mutations have no apparent relationship to the patterns of alteration of CDKN2A and its downstream effectors. Thus, the data also suggest that successful exploitation of mutations in melanoma will be dependent on understanding not only mutations and their frequency but their genetic context as well.