Mutation rates in main tumour driver genes predict prognosis in patients with superficial spreading or nodular primary melanoma: results from the CARAMEL study by the Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI)

: Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) and nodular melanoma (NM) are the two histotypes that account for most cutaneous primary melanomas. We evaluated the mutational status for the genes underlying melanomagenesis among a series of SSMs and NMs from different Italian geographical areas. An increased number of mutated melanoma-driver genes was found to occur in both histological subtypes, with no specific mutational pattern distinctive for SSM and NM lesions, being significantly associated to shorter progression-free survival and poorer overall survival.