Recurrent inactivating RASA2 mutations in melanoma

Abstract

Analysis of 501 melanoma exomes revealed RASA2, encoding a RasGAP, as a tumor-suppressor gene mutated in 5% of melanomas. Recurrent loss-of-function mutations in RASA2 were found to increase RAS activation, melanoma cell growth and migration. RASA2 expression was lost in ≥30% of human melanomas and was associated with reduced patient survival. These findings reveal RASA2 inactivation as a melanoma driver and highlight the importance of Ras GAPs in cancer.