DOI: 10.4103/ijd.ijd_158_26 ISSN: 0019-5154
Codon-Specific BRAF V600 Mutation Spectrum and Site-Based Correlates in a North Indian Cohort of Cutaneous Melanoma
Ashmeet Kaur, Urvashi Vijay, Amit Kumar Tiwari Abstract
Background:
Codon-specific
BRAF
mutations are relevant for targeted treatment in melanoma, but Indian data remain limited, and most published studies report only mutant or wild-type status.
Aims and Objectives:
To evaluate the spectrum of
BRAF
V600 variants and their clinicopathological associations in cutaneous melanoma from North India.
Materials and Methods:
Thirty-five primary cutaneous melanomas diagnosed between 2023 and 2025 underwent allele-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction for
BRAF
exon 15 codon 600 variants. Mutation status was correlated with tumour site and histopathological parameters.
Results:
BRAF
V600 mutations were detected in 19/35 cases (54.3%). V600E was the commonest subtype (31.4%), followed by V600K (8.6%). Rare non-V600E variants (V600R, V600M, V600G, and V600D) accounted for 42.1% of mutated tumours. Mutations were more frequent in non-acral than acral melanomas (65.2% vs 33.3%,
P
= 0.048).
BRAF
-mutated tumours also showed non-significant trends towards greater Breslow thickness, higher ulceration rates, and increased mitotic activity. Targetable V600E/V600K alterations were present in 40.0% of cases.
Conclusion:
Codon-specific testing showed considerable
BRAF
heterogeneity in this cohort, with a sizeable proportion of non-V600E variants. Broader mutation testing may help identify patients suitable for targeted therapy in routine practice settings.