Next-generation sequencing reveals rare genomic alterations in aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma

Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma (ADPA) is a rare cutaneous adnexal neoplasm that occurs on the fingers, toes, palms, and soles. It is characterized by aggressive biological behavior, with a relatively high potential for local recurrence (30%-40% of cases) and distant metastasis (up to 14%). This retrospective study assessed the mutation status of ADPA lesions to identify possible therapeutic targets. We performed comprehensive genomic profiling of 9 ADPA cases that had been identified in our database. We identified a BRAF-V600E (BRAF c.1799T>A p.V600E) mutation in 1 patient (11%). Complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice for ADPA; however, there are no uniform diagnostic guidelines or recognized effective treatments for metastasis, and no therapeutic targets have been identified. Targeted therapy may be a treatment option for patients with metastatic ADPA if a relevant oncogene mutation is identified. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm our findings and identify more molecular mechanisms.