Clinical, pathological and dermoscopic phenotype of MITF p.E318K carrier cutaneous melanoma patients

• Published in: Journal of translational medicine Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 78
• Main Authors: Ciccarese, Giulia, Dalmasso, Bruna, Bruno, William, Queirolo, Paola, Pastorino, Lorenza, Andreotti, Virginia, Spagnolo, Francesco, Tanda, Enrica, Ponti, Giovanni, Massone, Cesare, Drago, Francesco, Parodi, Aurora, Ghigliotti, Giovanni, Pizzichetta, Maria Antonietta, Ghiorzo, Paola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 13.02.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Cancer; Cancer prevention; Carcinoma; Cell cycle; Cutaneous melanoma; Cyclin-dependent kinase 4; Cyclin-dependent kinases; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diagnosis; Disease susceptibility; DNA; Dysplastic nevi; E318K; Family medical history; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetic screening; Genetic testing; Genotype & phenotype; Health aspects; Humans; Hypoxia; Identification and classification; Kidney cancer; Medical research; Melanocyte Inducing Transcription Factor; Melanocytes; Melanoma; Melanoma - genetics; Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor - genetics; Nevi; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Renal cell carcinoma; Retrospective Studies; Skin cancer; Skin Neoplasms - genetics; Transcription (Genetics); Transcription factors; Italy; Cancer genetics; Germline variant; Dysplastic nevi; E318K; Melanocyte Inducing Transcription Factor; Cutaneous melanoma; Renal cell carcinoma; Susceptibility; Dermoscopy; Nevi
• DOI: 10.1186/s12967-020-02253-8
• ISSN: 1479-5876

The p.E318K variant of the Melanocyte Inducing Transcription Factor (MITF) has been implicated in genetic predisposition to melanoma as an intermediate penetrance allele. However, the impact of this variant on clinico-phenotypic, as well as on dermoscopic patterns features of affected patients is not entirely defined. The purpose of our study was to assess the association between the p.E318K germline variant and clinic-phenotypical features of MITF+ compared to non-carriers (MITF-), including dermoscopic findings of melanomas and dysplastic nevi. we retrospectively analyzed a consecutive series of 1386 patients recruited between 2000 and 2017 who underwent genetic testing for CDKN2A, CDK4, MC1R and MITF germline variants in our laboratory for diagnostic/research purposes. The patients were probands of melanoma-prone families and apparently sporadic single or multiple primary melanoma patients. For all, we collected clinical, pathological information and dermoscopic images of the histopathologically diagnosed melanomas and dysplastic nevi, when available. After excluding patients positive for CDKN2A/CDK4 pathogenic variants and those affected by non-cutaneous melanomas, our study cohort comprised 984 cutaneous melanoma patients, 22 MITF+ and 962 MITF-. MITF+ were more likely to develop dysplastic nevi and multiple primary melanomas. Nodular melanoma was more common in MITF+ patients (32% compared to 19% in MITF-). MITF+ patients showed more frequently dysplastic nevi and melanomas with uncommon dermoscopic patterns (unspecific), as opposed to MITF- patients, whose most prevalent pattern was the multicomponent. MITF+ patients tend to develop melanomas and dysplastic nevi with histopathological features, frequency and dermoscopic patterns often different from those prevalent in MITF- patients. Our results emphasize the importance of melanoma prevention programs for MITF+ patients, including dermatologic surveillance with digital follow-up.