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Primary mucosal melanomas of the head and neck are characterised by overexpression of the DNA mutating enzyme APOBEC3B.


ABSTRACT:

Aims

Primary head/neck mucosal melanomas (MMs) are rare and exhibit aggressive biologic behaviour and elevated mutational loads. The molecular mechanisms responsible for high genomic instability observed in head/neck MMs remain elusive. The DNA cytosine deaminase APOBEC3B (A3B) constitutes a major endogenous source of mutation in human cancer. A3B-related mutations are identified through C-to-T/-G base substitutions in 5'-TCA/T motifs. Herein, we present immunohistochemical and genomic data supportive of a role for A3B in head/neck MMs.

Methods and results

A3B protein levels were assessed in oral (n = 13) and sinonasal (n = 13) melanomas, and oral melanocytic nevi (n = 13) by immunohistochemistry using a custom rabbit α-A3B mAb (5210-87-13). Heterogeneous, selective-to-diffuse, nuclear only, A3B immunopositivity was observed in 12 of 13 (92.3%) oral melanomas (H-score range = 9-72, median = 40) and 8 of 13 (62%) sinonasal melanomas (H-score range = 1-110, median = 24). Two cases negative for A3B showed prominent cytoplasmic staining consistent with A3G. A3B protein levels were significantly higher in oral and sinonasal MMs than intraoral melanocytic nevi (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0022, respectively), which were A3B-negative (H-score range = 1-8, median = 4). A3B levels, however, did not differ significantly between oral and sinonasal tumours (P > 0.99). NGS performed in 10 sinonasal MMs revealed missense NRAS mutations in 50% of the studied cases and one each KIT and HRAS mutations. Publicly available whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data disclosed that the number of C-to-T mutations and APOBEC3 enrichment score were markedly elevated in head/neck MMs (n = 2).

Conclusion

The above data strongly indicate a possible role for the mutagenic enzyme A3B in head/neck melanomagenesis, but not benign melanocytic neoplasms.

SUBMITTER: Argyris PP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10107945 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Primary mucosal melanomas of the head and neck are characterised by overexpression of the DNA mutating enzyme APOBEC3B.

Argyris Prokopios P PP   Naumann Jordan J   Jarvis Matthew C MC   Wilkinson Peter E PE   Ho Dan P DP   Islam Mohammed N MN   Bhattacharyya Indraneel I   Gopalakrishnan Rajaram R   Li Faqian F   Koutlas Ioannis G IG   Giubellino Alessio A   Harris Reuben S RS  

Histopathology 20221205 4


<h4>Aims</h4>Primary head/neck mucosal melanomas (MMs) are rare and exhibit aggressive biologic behaviour and elevated mutational loads. The molecular mechanisms responsible for high genomic instability observed in head/neck MMs remain elusive. The DNA cytosine deaminase APOBEC3B (A3B) constitutes a major endogenous source of mutation in human cancer. A3B-related mutations are identified through C-to-T/-G base substitutions in 5'-TCA/T motifs. Herein, we present immunohistochemical and genomic d  ...[more]

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