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Updated: May 20, 2026

Characterize Disease-related Mutants of RAF Family Kinases by Using a Set of Practical and Feasible Methods
07:49

Characterize Disease-related Mutants of RAF Family Kinases by Using a Set of Practical and Feasible Methods

Published on: July 17, 2019

Squamoproliferative lesions arising in the setting of BRAF inhibition

Nathan T Harvey1, Michael Millward, Benjamin A Wood

  • 1Department of Anatomical Pathology, PathWest, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UWA QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia. nathan.harvey@health.wa.gov.au

The American Journal of Dermatopathology
|July 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Novel BRAF inhibitor drugs targeting V600E mutations can cause skin lesions. A review found most lesions were squamoproliferative, with many resembling keratoacanthomas or verruca vulgaris, highlighting diverse presentations.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Oncology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • BRAF inhibitors targeting the V600E mutation are increasingly used for melanoma and other cancers.
  • A notable side effect is the development of cutaneous squamoproliferative lesions.
  • These lesions are often described as keratoacanthomas (KAs) or well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a detailed histopathological analysis of squamoproliferative lesions arising during BRAF inhibitor therapy.
  • To characterize the morphological diversity of these drug-induced lesions.
  • To provide guidance for dermatopathologists encountering these lesions.

Main Methods:

  • Histopathological review of excised lesions from patients undergoing BRAF inhibitor treatment.
  • Classification of lesions based on established diagnostic criteria.
  • Designation of novel lesion types based on observed histological features.

Main Results:

  • 73% of reviewed lesions exhibited squamoproliferative characteristics.
  • 33% of these lesions met histological criteria for keratoacanthoma.
  • 43% showed features consistent with verruca vulgaris, termed BRAF inhibitor associated verrucous keratosis.

Conclusions:

  • BRAF inhibitor therapy can induce a spectrum of squamoproliferative lesions.
  • These lesions display significant morphological diversity, including keratoacanthomas and a newly described verrucous keratosis.
  • Increased recognition of these lesions is anticipated in dermatopathology practice due to the success of BRAF inhibitors.

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