Metastatic Undifferentiated Melanoma with Ultra-High Tumor Mutational Burden and UV Mutational Signature: A Diagnostic Challenge

Undifferentiated melanoma (UM) is a rare and diagnostically challenging subtype of malignant melanoma that often lacks traditional histological features and immunophenotypic expression. We report the case of a 58-year-old man with a history of a previously excised melanoma in-situ (lentigo maligna type) of the scalp who later developed a painful chest wall mass. Subsequent workup revealed a high-grade malignant neoplasm with only focal weak S100P positivity while molecular analysis with next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed an ultra-high TMB tumor mutational burden (>150 mut/Mb), NF1 mutation, TERT promoter mutation, TP53 mutations, PTPRD mutations, and a UV mutational signature (100% SBS7a), supportive of a diagnosis of UM. This case highlights the diagnostic value of comprehensive molecular testing in UM and its role in informing immunotherapy decisions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Precision Oncology
Published
2026-02-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/precisoncol1010004
Primary Topic
Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Metastatic Undifferentiated Melanoma with Ultra-High Tumor Mutational Burden and UV Mutational Signature: A Diagnostic Challenge

Lowell Anthony, J. L. Villano, Nicole Lisek, Derek B. Allison
Precision Oncology
Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
article

Metastatic Undifferentiated Melanoma with Ultra-High Tumor Mutational Burden and UV Mutational Signature: A Diagnostic Challenge

Lowell Anthony, J. L. Villano, Nicole Lisek, Derek B. Allison
article en

Abstract

Undifferentiated melanoma (UM) is a rare and diagnostically challenging subtype of malignant melanoma that often lacks traditional histological features and immunophenotypic expression. We report the case of a 58-year-old man with a history of a previously excised melanoma in-situ (lentigo maligna type) of the scalp who later developed a painful chest wall mass. Subsequent workup revealed a high-grade malignant neoplasm with only focal weak S100P positivity while molecular analysis with next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed an ultra-high TMB tumor mutational burden (>150 mut/Mb), NF1 mutation, TERT promoter mutation, TP53 mutations, PTPRD mutations, and a UV mutational signature (100% SBS7a), supportive of a diagnosis of UM. This case highlights the diagnostic value of comprehensive molecular testing in UM and its role in informing immunotherapy decisions.

Precision OncologyVol. 1(1)
University of Kentucky (US), Markey Cancer Center (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 41%
Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
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