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Sergi MC, Filoni E, Triggiano G, Cazzato G, Internò V, Porta C, Tucci M. Mucosal Melanoma: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, and Treatment. Curr Oncol Rep 2023; 25:1247-1258. [PMID: 37773078 PMCID: PMC10640506 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-023-01453-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Summarize the writings published in the last years on the management and novel therapies of mucosal melanoma (MM). RECENT FINDINGS New research has demonstrated a difference between MM and cutaneous melanoma (CM) in their genomic and molecular landscapes, explaining the response's heterogeneity. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy have limited benefit, but novel therapies are rapidly expanding. MM is aggressive cancer occurring in gastrointestinal, respiratory, or urogenital mucosa; whose incidence is greater in the Asian population. The etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear since UV exposure is not a proven risk factor as in cutaneous melanoma. In contrast to CM, lesions on the mucosal surface are less likely to be recognized early; therefore, the disease is diagnosed in an advanced stage. Clinical manifestations, such as bleeding or pain, can help to detect this tumor, although the prognosis remains unfavorable with an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 20%. The mutational landscape of MM includes mutations of BRAF and NRAS, as well as mutations in the c-KIT/CD117 gene (in 50% of patients), thus limiting therapeutic interventions to immunotherapy. However, clinical studies show less responsiveness to immunotherapy compared to CM, therefore novel therapeutic strategies targeting new molecules are needed to improve the survival of patients with MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chiara Sergi
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Filoni
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giacomo Triggiano
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Gerardo Cazzato
- Section of Molecular Pathology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Camillo Porta
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Tucci
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Oncology Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", P.za Giulio Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
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Khatri S, Kashfi S, Griffin S. Primary Mucosal Melanoma of the Lip With GNA11 Mutation in a 23-Year-Old Pregnant Woman. Cureus 2023; 15:e38581. [PMID: 37284406 PMCID: PMC10239609 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucosal melanoma represents a small proportion of all melanoma cases and is associated with a worse prognosis. Primary malignant melanoma of the lip (PMML) is far less common, and only a few cases have been reported since 1997, most commonly in China, Japan, Uganda, and India. Most of these cases have been associated with the gene C-KIT. As a result, treatment guidelines surrounding mucosal melanoma are unclear, especially in complicated populations such as pregnant women. Mutations in theGNAQ and GNA11 genes have been found to be associated with uveal melanoma, while they are rarely associated with mucosal melanoma. We present the case of a 23-year-old pregnant woman who was found to have likely primary malignant melanoma of the lip that metastasized to the left jaw, neck, breast, lungs, and ovaries and was found to be positive for both the BRAF-MLL3 and GNA11 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivam Khatri
- Medical School, City University of New York (CUNY) School of Medicine, New York City, USA
| | - Simon Kashfi
- Internal Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, USA
| | - Stephanie Griffin
- Internal Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, USA
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Taskın OC, Ozturk Sarı S, Yılmaz I, Hurdogan O, Keskin M, Buyukbabani N, Gulluoglu M. BRAF, NRAS, KIT, TERT, GNAQ/GNA11 Mutation Profile and Histomorphological Analysis of Anorectal Melanomas: A Clinicopathologic Study. Turk Patoloji Derg 2023; 39:23-30. [PMID: 35642348 PMCID: PMC10518134 DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2022.01576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Primary anorectal melanomas (AMs) are uncommon neoplasms with aggressive behavior. Molecular profile and clinicopathologic features of AMs are still not well established. In this study, we aimed to investigate BRAF, NRAS, KIT, TERT, and GNAQ/GNA11 mutation status and clinicopathologic features of AMs. MATERIAL AND METHOD All diagnostic slides of 15 AMs were reviewed. Histopathological and follow-up information were documented. Mutations in exon 15 of the BRAF gene; exons 2 and 3 of the NRAS gene; exons 9, 11, 13, 17, and 18 of the KIT gene; and exons 4 and 5 of the GNAQ/GNA11 genes and mutations in the promoter region of the TERT gene (chr.5, 1,295,228C > T and 1,295,250C > T) were analyzed. RESULTS BRAF(V600E) and KIT(V555I and K642E) mutations were observed in one (7%) and two cases (14%), respectively. NRAS, TERT and GNAQ/GNA11 mutations were not detected. The mean age was 65. Patients presented with rectal mass, rectal bleeding, pain, and weight loss. 73% of the lesions were macroscopically polypoid. The most common tumor cell type was epithelioid. Mean tumor thickness was 10.4 mm. One third of the cases lacked pigmentation. In situ melanoma was present in one third of the cases. Among 14 patients with follow-up data, 12 succumbed to disease. The mean overall survival was 36 months. CONCLUSION AMs are uncommon tumors with dismal survival, usually occurring in the elderly in various gross and microscopic appearances. In terms of molecular profile, BRAF and KIT mutations are rarely detected. Profiling of larger cohorts is required to elucidate the pathogenesis and to identify potential molecular indicators that may contribute to the development of individualized targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orhun Cig Taskın
- Department of Pathology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sule Ozturk Sarı
- Department of Pathology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ismail Yılmaz
- Sultan II. Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozge Hurdogan
- Department of Pathology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Metin Keskin
- Department of Surgery, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nesimi Buyukbabani
- Department of Pathology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mine Gulluoglu
- Department of Pathology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
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Ge Y, Deng JJ, Zhu J, Liu L, Ouyang S, Song Z, Zhang X, Xiong XF. Discovery of small molecule Gαq/11 protein inhibitors against uveal melanoma. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:3326-3340. [PMID: 35967274 PMCID: PMC9366314 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Constitutively activated G proteins caused by specific mutations mediate the development of multiple malignancies. The mutated Gαq/11 are perceived as oncogenic drivers in the vast majority of uveal melanoma (UM) cases, making directly targeting Gαq/11 to be a promising strategy for combating UM. Herein, we report the optimization of imidazopiperazine derivatives as Gαq/11 inhibitors, and identified GQ262 with improved Gαq/11 inhibitory activity and drug-like properties. GQ262 efficiently blocked UM cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Analysis of the apoptosis-related proteins, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and yes-associated protein (YAP) demonstrated that GQ262 distinctly induced UM cells apoptosis and disrupted the downstream effectors by targeting Gαq/11 directly. Significantly, GQ262 showed outstanding antitumor efficacy in vivo with good safety at the testing dose. Collectively, our findings along with the favorable pharmacokinetics of GQ262 revealed that directly targeting Gαq/11 may be an efficient strategy against uveal melanoma.
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Choi JY, Lee YS, Shim DM, Lee YK, Seo SW. GNAQ knockdown promotes bone metastasis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung cancer cells. Bone Joint Res 2021; 10:310-320. [PMID: 33993733 PMCID: PMC8160028 DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.105.bjr-2020-0262.r3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Bone metastasis ultimately occurs due to a complex multistep process, during which the interactions between cancer cells and bone microenvironment play important roles. Prior to colonization of the bone, cancer cells must succeed through a series of steps that will allow them to gain migratory and invasive properties; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known to be integral here. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of G protein subunit alpha Q (GNAQ) on the mechanisms underlying bone metastasis through EMT pathway. METHODS A total of 80 tissue samples from patients who were surgically treated during January 2012 to December 2014 were used in the present study. Comparative gene analysis revealed that the GNAQ was more frequently altered in metastatic bone lesions than in primary tumour sites in lung cancer patients. We investigated the effects of GNAQ on cell proliferation, migration, EMT, and stem cell transformation using lung cancer cells with GNAQ-knockdown. A xenograft mouse model tested the effect of GNAQ using micro-CT analyses and histological analyses. RESULTS GNAQ-knockdown showed down-regulation of tumour growth through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling in lung cancer cells, but not increased apoptosis. We found that GNAQ-knockdown induced EMT and promoted invasiveness. GNAQ-knockdown cells injected into the bone marrow of murine tibia induced tumour growth and bone-to-lung metastasis, whereas it did not in control mice. Moreover, the knockdown of GNAQ enhanced cancer stem cell-like properties in lung cancer cells, which resulted in the development of resistance to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION The present study reveals that the GNAQ-knockdown induced cancer stem cell-like properties. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2021;10(5):310-320.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yoon Choi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yun Sun Lee
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Da Mi Shim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Keun Lee
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung Wook Seo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
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Ramazzotti D, Graudenzi A, De Sano L, Antoniotti M, Caravagna G. Learning mutational graphs of individual tumour evolution from single-cell and multi-region sequencing data. BMC Bioinformatics 2019; 20:210. [PMID: 31023236 PMCID: PMC6485126 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-019-2795-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A large number of algorithms is being developed to reconstruct evolutionary models of individual tumours from genome sequencing data. Most methods can analyze multiple samples collected either through bulk multi-region sequencing experiments or the sequencing of individual cancer cells. However, rarely the same method can support both data types. RESULTS We introduce TRaIT, a computational framework to infer mutational graphs that model the accumulation of multiple types of somatic alterations driving tumour evolution. Compared to other tools, TRaIT supports multi-region and single-cell sequencing data within the same statistical framework, and delivers expressive models that capture many complex evolutionary phenomena. TRaIT improves accuracy, robustness to data-specific errors and computational complexity compared to competing methods. CONCLUSIONS We show that the application of TRaIT to single-cell and multi-region cancer datasets can produce accurate and reliable models of single-tumour evolution, quantify the extent of intra-tumour heterogeneity and generate new testable experimental hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex Graudenzi
- Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Viale Sarca 336, Milan, 20126 Italy
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology of the Italian National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), Viale F.lli Cervi 93, Segrate, Milan, 20090 Italy
| | - Luca De Sano
- Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Viale Sarca 336, Milan, 20126 Italy
| | - Marco Antoniotti
- Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Viale Sarca 336, Milan, 20126 Italy
- Milan Center for Neuroscience, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Via Pergolesi 33, Monza, 20052 Italy
| | - Giulio Caravagna
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, London, SM2 5NG UK
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A Review of the Aetiopathogenesis and Clinical and Histopathological Features of Oral Mucosal Melanoma. ScientificWorldJournal 2017. [PMID: 28638859 PMCID: PMC5468585 DOI: 10.1155/2017/9189812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral mucosal melanoma is an uncommon, usually heavily melanin-pigmented, but occasionally amelanotic aggressive tumour with a poor prognosis. Despite radical surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, local recurrence and distant metastasis are frequent. Microscopical examination is essential for diagnosis, and routine histological staining must be supplemented by immunohistochemical studies. The aetiology is unknown, the pathogenesis is poorly understood, and the 5-year survival rate rarely exceeds 30%. In most cases, oral mucosal melanoma arises from epithelial melanocytes in the basal layer of the epithelium and less frequently from immature melanocytes arrested in the lamina propria. In both cases the melanocytes undergo malignant transformation, invade deeper tissues, and metastasize to regional lymph nodes and to distant sites. Very rarely metastasis from skin melanoma may give rise to oral mucosal melanoma that may be mistaken for primary oral mucosal melanoma. The pathogenesis of oral mucosal melanoma is complex involving multiple interactions between cytogenetic factors including dysregulation of the cKit signalling pathways, cell cycle, apoptosis, and cell-to-cell interactions on the one hand and melanin itself, melanin intermediates, and local microenvironmental agents regulating melanogenesis on the other hand. The detailed mechanisms that initiate the malignant transformation of oral melanocytes and thereafter sustain and promote the process of melanomagenesis are unknown.
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Shim JH, Shin HT, Park J, Park JH, Lee JH, Yang JM, Kim DH, Jang KT, Lee DY. Mutational profiling of acral melanomas in Korean populations. Exp Dermatol 2017; 26:883-888. [DOI: 10.1111/exd.13321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joon Ho Shim
- Department of Dermatology; Samsung Medical Center; Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine; Seoul Korea
- Samsung Genome Institute; Samsung Medical Center; Seoul Korea
| | - Hyun-Tae Shin
- Samsung Genome Institute; Samsung Medical Center; Seoul Korea
| | - Jiho Park
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology; Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology; Sungkyunkwan University; Seoul Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Park
- Department of Dermatology; Samsung Medical Center; Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine; Seoul Korea
| | - Jong-Hee Lee
- Department of Dermatology; Samsung Medical Center; Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine; Seoul Korea
- Department of Medical Device Management & Research; Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology; Sungkyunkwan University; Seoul Korea
| | - Jun-Mo Yang
- Department of Dermatology; Samsung Medical Center; Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine; Seoul Korea
| | - Duk-Hwan Kim
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology; Samsung Biomedical Research Institute; Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine; Suwon Korea
| | - Kee-Taek Jang
- Department of Pathology; Samsung Medical Center; Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine; Seoul Korea
| | - Dong-Youn Lee
- Department of Dermatology; Samsung Medical Center; Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine; Seoul Korea
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Öztürk Sari Ş, Yilmaz İ, Taşkin OÇ, Narli Gİ, Şen F, Çomoğlu Ş, Firat P, Bİlgİç Bİ, Yilmazbayhan Dİ, Özlük Y, Büyükbabanİ N. BRAF, NRAS, KIT, TERT, GNAQ/GNA11 mutation profile analysis of head and neck mucosal melanomas: a study of 42 cases. Pathology 2017; 49:55-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2016.09.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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GNAQ and GNA11 mutations occur in 9.5% of mucosal melanoma and are associated with poor prognosis. Eur J Cancer 2016; 65:156-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2016.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Castiglione R, Ihle MA, Heydt C, Schultheis AM, Merkelbach-Bruse S, Mauch C, Büttner R. The impact of sequencing on diagnosis and treatment of malignant melanoma. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2016; 16:423-33. [PMID: 26822148 DOI: 10.1586/14737159.2016.1147958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the clinically most important cancer types considering its high mortality rate and that it is commonly diagnosed in relatively young people. With the advent of targeted therapies and, more recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors, more treatment options are available resulting in higher patient survival rates. However, the successful application of these targeted therapies critically depends on the reliable detection of molecular aberrations. Today, massively parallel sequencing techniques enable us to analyze large sets of genes in a relatively short time. It has allowed increased knowledge of acquired somatic mutations in melanoma and has helped to identify new targets for personalized therapy, and potentially may help to predict response to immune therapies. Described here are the development of sequencing techniques, how their improvement has changed diagnosis, prognosis and management of malignant melanoma and the future perspectives of melanoma diagnostics in the routine clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michaela A Ihle
- a Institute of Pathology , University Hospital Cologne , Cologne , Germany
| | - Carina Heydt
- a Institute of Pathology , University Hospital Cologne , Cologne , Germany
| | - Anne M Schultheis
- a Institute of Pathology , University Hospital Cologne , Cologne , Germany
| | | | - Cornelia Mauch
- b Clinic for Dermatology , University Hospital Cologne , Cologne , Germany
| | - Reinhard Büttner
- a Institute of Pathology , University Hospital Cologne , Cologne , Germany
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Küsters-Vandevelde HVN, Küsters B, van Engen-van Grunsven ACH, Groenen PJTA, Wesseling P, Blokx WAM. Primary melanocytic tumors of the central nervous system: a review with focus on molecular aspects. Brain Pathol 2015; 25:209-26. [PMID: 25534128 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary melanocytic tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) represent a spectrum of rare tumors. They can be benign or malignant and occur in adults as well as in children, the latter often in the context of neurocutaneous melanosis. Until recently, the genetic alterations in these tumors were largely unknown. This is in contrast with cutaneous and uveal melanomas, which are known to harbor distinct oncogenic mutations that can be used as targets for treatment with small-molecule inhibitors in the advanced setting. Recently, novel insights in the molecular alterations underlying primary melanocytic tumors of the CNS were obtained, including different oncogenic mutations in tumors in adult patients (especially GNAQ, GNA11) vs. children (especially NRAS). In this review, the focus is on molecular characteristics of primary melanocytic tumors of the CNS. We summarize what is known about their genetic alterations and discuss implications for pathogenesis and differential diagnosis with other pigmented tumors in or around the CNS. Finally, new therapeutic options with targeted therapy are discussed.
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Huang JLY, Urtatiz O, Van Raamsdonk CD. Oncogenic G Protein GNAQ Induces Uveal Melanoma and Intravasation in Mice. Cancer Res 2015; 75:3384-97. [PMID: 26113083 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-3229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
GNAQ and GNA11 are heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits, which are mutated in a mutually exclusive pattern in most cases of uveal melanoma, one of the most aggressive cancers. Here we introduce the first transgenic mouse model of uveal melanoma, which develops cancers induced by expression of oncogenic GNAQ(Q209L) under control of the Rosa26 promoter. Disease penetrance is 100% by 3 months of age, with 94% of mice also developing lung tumors. In this model, the Yap protein of the Hippo pathway is activated in the eyes, and blood vessels near the lesions in the head and lungs exhibit melanocytic invasion. While full transcription levels are not necessary for GNAQ(Q209L) to transform mouse melanocytes, we obtained suggestive evidence of a selective advantage for increased GNAQ(Q209L) expression in human tumors. Intriguingly, enforced expression of GNAQ(Q209L) progressively eliminated melanocytes from the interfollicular epidermis in adults, possibly explaining the near absence of GNAQ(Q209) mutations in human epithelial melanomas. The mouse model also exhibited dermal nevi and melanocytic neoplasms of the central nervous system, accompanied by impaired hearing and balance, identifying a novel role for GNAQ in melanocyte-like cells of the inner ear. Overall, this model offers a new tool to dissect signaling by oncogenic GNAQ and to test potential therapeutics in an in vivo setting where GNAQ(Q209L) mutations contribute to both the initiation and metastatic progression of uveal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Li-Ying Huang
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Oscar Urtatiz
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Catherine D Van Raamsdonk
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Low mutational burden of eight genes involved in the MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, and GNAQ/11 pathways in female genital tract primary melanomas. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:303791. [PMID: 25695059 PMCID: PMC4324736 DOI: 10.1155/2015/303791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Mucosal melanomas exhibit discrete genetic features compared to cutaneous melanoma. Limited studies on gynecological melanomas revealed significant heterogeneity and low mutational burden. To gain further insight into their genetics and DNA repair efficiency, we systematically investigated the status of eight genes whose products are critically involved in the MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, and GNAQ/11 pathways, including BRAF, NRAS, HRAS, KRAS, c-KIT, PI3K, GNAQ, and GNA11, in a series of 16 primary gynecological melanomas, covering all anatomical locations, ranging from stages I to III. Analysis either by real-time PCR coupled with fluorescence melting curve analysis or by PCR followed by direct sequencing, along with studies for DNA mismatch repair status using immunohistochemistry, disclosed that 15 out of the 16 cases displayed wild-type genotypes, with a single case of vulvar primary melanoma, harboring the activating mutation BRAF(V600E). Investigations on whether this could reflect partly an efficient mismatch repair (MMR) mechanism were confirmed by normal expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2, suggesting that the lack of mutations could be explained by the operation of alternative pathogenetic mechanisms modulating downstream effectors of the signaling pathways. Our data suggest the presence of additional genetic components and provide the impetus for systematic approaches to reveal these yet unidentified genetic parameters.
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