Prognostic relevance of lactate dehydrogenase and serum S100 levels in stage IV melanoma with known BRAF mutation status

Summary Background Activating mutations of BRAF provide an important treatment target in patients with melanoma. The prognostic role of several biochemical markers in relation to mutation status is not clear. Objectives To analyse the prognostic significance of BRAF mutation in patients with melanoma and correlate it to different markers. Methods In total, 162 patients with stage IV melanoma and known BRAF mutation status were included. Clinical, histopathological and laboratory information was collected and compared between patients with BRAF mutant (BRAFm) and wild‐type (BRAFwt) melanoma at the time of first distant metastasis. Results In total, 88 patients (54%) had BRAFm melanoma (V600E/V600K). At the first distant metastasis, S100B levels in BRAFm patients were more frequently elevated (P = 0·01) and significantly higher (P = 0·02). Median overall survival (mOS) was significantly longer in BRAFwt patients with normal compared with patients with elevated S100B levels (P