Clinical and histopathological features of malignant melanoma in germline CDKN2A mutation families

• Primary cutaneous malignant melanomas (CMMs) from 26 individuals belonging to nine families with an identified CDKN2A mutation were clinically and histopathologically compared with 78 matched CMM controls and with a population-based series of CMMs (n=667). All tumours were histopathologically re-examined. CDKN2A-associated cases were significantly less invasive compared with the matched controls, with an adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) of 2.9 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.0-8.1 (P=0.04). According to the odds ratio (OR) values, CDKN2A-associated cases seemed to have tumours more often located on the head and neck (adjOR 2.9, 95% CI 0.6-13.7), with less inflammation (adjOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.3-1.8) and regression (adjOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.2-1.8) but more frequent histological ulceration (adjOR 1.9, 95% CI 0.6-5.8). In comparison with the population-based material, CDKN2A-associated cases were significantly younger at diagnosis (crude OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.6-7.5, divided at 50 years) and had less regressive reaction in their tumours (crude OR 0.355 95% CI 0.2-0.8). No significant differences were seen for tumour thickness between the different groups. On multivariate analysis, the overall survival was significantly worse for thicker tumours and older age (P=0.04 for both). To our knowledge this is the first description of the histopathological features of CMMs from families with mutations in the CDKN2A gene.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

mutation

melanoma

histopathology

CDKN2A

hereditary

population-based

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)