Introduction. Malignant melanoma is a neoplasm arising from melanocytes. Researchers are still looking for genome mutations responsible for oncogenesis initiation, because of the increasing number of melanoma patients. Genes encoding proteins of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway are often defective in multiple different neoplasms.
Objective. Molecular analysis of selected exons of BRAF, NRAS, HRAS genes in human melanoma cell lines.
Material and methods. Seven human melanoma cell lines were tested with the PCR method. The blood leucocytes of healthy volunteers were used as a control.
Results. Defects of exons were observed in all melanoma cells lines. No mutations were found in exons of controls.
Conclusions. Results suggest a possible role of BRAF and RAS genes in malignant melanoma pathogenesis.