Molecular pathology of melanoma

There has long been a clinical need for improved molecular pathology in melanoma, particularly in the histopathology laboratory where the differentiation of melanoma from its benign counterparts is commonly difficult. The need for improved molecular pathology has recently increased as immunotherapeutic options for the treatment of the tumour evolve. It seems likely that in the relatively near future tumour typing before and during immunotherapy will be needed. The identification of the tumour suppressor gene coding for the protein p16 as an important gene in the pathogenesis of melanoma is of great interest but the identification of oncogenes having a significant role in melanoma carcinogenesis has been slow.