Hispanic patients have a higher number of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) gene mutations per patient compared with Asian and Caucasian patients, according to the results of a cohort study published in Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Researchers identified potential variations in BCC gene mutations between Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian patients in a cohort study performed from 2015 to 2017. The study included 23 patients treated for BCC at an urban academic hospital. Gene mutations were assessed in the patients using a targeted mutation panel.
The highest number of mutations per patient were found in the Hispanic population. The different cohorts also differed on the type of mutation that was the most prevalent. GATA3 mutations were more common in Hispanic patients, while TP53 was the most common in the Asian cohort. UVB mutations were the most common in the Caucasian cohort.
“This study shows potential differences in the prevalence of somatic gene mutations for BCC patients of different races and ethnicities, which could inform the underlying pathogenesis, impact the efficacy of therapies in specific populations, and may also help identify novel therapeutic targets,” concluded the study authors. –Lisa Kuhns
Reference
Lobl M, Hass B, Clarey D, Higgins S, Sutton A, Wysong A. Basal cell carcinoma gene mutations differ between Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian patients: a pilot study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(5):504-510. doi:10.36849/JDD.5884
