Biallelic Deletions in INK4 in Cutaneous Melanoma Are Common and Associated with Decreased Survival

Abstract
Purpose: Both the retinoblastoma and p53 pathways are often genetically altered in human cancers and their complex regulation is in part mediated by the three gene products p16, p14ARF, and p15 of the INK4 locus on chromosome 9p21. Partial or complete biallelic deletions of the INK4 locus have been recognized in a variety of malignant tumors, including malignant melanoma. We have in the present study measured the frequency of INK4 deletions in a large number of melanoma metastases and determined their association with clinicopathologic variables and survival data.