Clinical implications of genetic mutations in the prognostic stratification of acral malignant melanoma

Abstract

Acral malignant melanoma (AM) is an aggressive subtype with distinct genetic and clinical features, particularly prevalent in Asian populations. This study investigated prognostic factors, surgical outcomes and molecular biomarkers to improve management strategies. A retrospective analysis of 223 AM patients (2015–2021) evaluated clinical-pathological variables (ulceration, LDH, Ki-67) through Cox regression. Surgical outcomes for heel defects were compared between traditional skin grafting (n=73) and vacuum-assisted closure (VSD; n=73). Bioinformatics analysis of TCGA data identified metastasis-associated lncRNAs, validated via qPCR in melanoma cell lines. Ulceration (HR=2.34, p