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Comprehensive Genomic Profiles of Melanoma in Veterans Compared to Reference Databases

  • 0Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Missouri.
Federal Practitioner : for the Health Care Professionals of the Va, Dod, and Phs +

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October 6, 2025

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October 6, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Melanomas in veterans show distinct genomic profiles compared to the general population, with differences in specific gene variants and higher tumor mutational burden. Further research is needed to understand the implications for veterans' cancer care.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Veterans Health

Background

  • Veterans are a unique patient group with potential exposures increasing cancer risk.
  • Specific mutational signatures linked to exposures are known in other cancers.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To analyze and compare the genomic profiles of metastatic melanoma in veterans.
  • To identify potential differences from general population melanoma genomic data.

Main Methods

  • Retrospective review of comprehensive genomic profiling reports.
  • Analysis of 35 veterans with metastatic melanoma.
  • Comparison with Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer and The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Main Results

  • Veterans' melanomas had higher frequencies of <i>CDKN2A/B</i> variants.
  • Lower frequencies of variants were observed in genes including <i>ROS1</i>, <i>GRIN2A</i>, <i>KDR</i>, <i>KMT2C</i>, <i>KMT2D</i>, <i>LRP1B</i>, <i>PTPRT</i>, <i>PTCH1</i>, <i>FAT4</i>, and <i>PREX2</i>.
  • Higher tumor mutational burden (>10 mutations/megabase) was noted.

Conclusions

  • Statistically significant genomic differences exist between veterans' melanomas and general population melanomas.
  • Further research is essential to confirm these findings.
  • Investigating the etiologic, prognostic, and therapeutic relevance of these differences is crucial.