Oncogenic BRAF expression is associated with poor prognosis in metastatic melanoma and other solid tumors

The molecular signature of a tumor is likely to influence patient prognosis. While the mutations that result in metastatic melanoma are heterogeneous and can involve other proteins, overactive RAS-RAF signaling is significantly associated with a poorer prognosis (Figure 3). Specifically, the presence of a BRAF mutation in metastatic melanoma is associated with poorer prognosis from time of first metastasis or time from first resected metastasis. Other mutations, such as NRAS, are also more common in this disease state.^28-30

In addition to melanoma, BRAF mutational status is associated with a poor prognosis in other cancers. The presence of mutated BRAF is a powerful prognostic factor for advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer. BRAF^V600E is associated with a worse prognosis in stage II and stage III colon cancer independently of disease stage and therapy. In papillary thyroid cancer, the BRAF^V600E mutation is associated with an increased risk of nodal recurrence requiring re-operative surgery.^28,31,32

H3 tag: Figure 3 - Effect of BRAF or NRAS mutation in overall survival

Influence of BRAF or NRAS mutation on overall survival (OS). OS was measured from removal of primary tumor or the respective metastasis to time of death. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves for OS of metastases stratified for absence (purple line) or presence (blue line) of either a BRAF or an NRAS mutation .²⁹

Adapted with permission of Medknow Publications and Media PVT Ltd., Houben et al. J Carcinog. 2004;3:6; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.