Yardena Samuels on RASA2 as Prognostic Biomarker in Melanoma

Yardena Samuels, PhD, Tenured Associate Professor, Department of Moleular Cell Biology, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, discuses her lab’s discovery of a potential prognostic biomarker in cutaneous sporadic melanoma.

Using a database of over 500 exomes and genomes, Samuels lab is functionally evaluating mutations in melanoma. This is to determine that the mutation is actually a driver, and to better understand what inhibitors work against it.

They have discovered a new tumor suppressor gene called RASA2. This inhibits RAS, one of the most important oncogenes, says Samuels.

Over 30% of patients lose the expression of RASA2, which is correlated with reduced survival, making RASA2 a prognostic biomarker, says Samuels.