Russian rates for melanoma incidence and mortality are relatively low as compared to some other white populations but the tumor is of increasing importance. In this paper, data are based on a retrospective descriptive analysis of melanoma epidemiology and clinicopathological characteristics in Krasnoyarsk Territory belonging to the Siberian Federal District of the Russian Federation. The age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates for the period 1996-2009 were determined with subsequent retrospective analysis of clinicopathological data of 103 primary melanoma cases. Our results showed that incidence and mortality rates in the region under consideration match the Russian national trends and correspond to epidemiological data of the countries of Eastern Europe. Stratification of melanoma cases by age, sex, clinicopathological state and localization revealed a prevalence of lesions on the trunk and lower extremities. Most melanomas diagnosed were of superficial spreading type and the third Clark's level of tumor invasion and stage II according to AJCC. In spite of comparatively low rates of incidence and mortality the trend to increase of melanoma cases in the region under consideration obviously calls for more attention and further investigation.

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Immunohistochemical studies revealed increased level of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in skin melanoma cells. Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 9 with interfering RNA changed the level of PCNA and reduced N-cadherin content in melanoma cells. This attests to the involvement of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in the realization of invasion and metastatic growth and in the regulation of tumor growth and progress.

The authors present the incidence and mortality rates caused by skin cancer in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. They analyze the reasons explaining the growth in the incidence rate for malignant skin neoplasms as well as ways to improve early diagnostics and prevention of skin tumors.

Skin melanoma is an aggressive malignant neoplasm. Mutation of the BRAF gene, BRAF V600E, is observed in more than 70% of melanoma cases. Assessment of the BRAF status in patients suffering from skin melanoma is an important stage in patient screening for selection of further therapy. To reveal the mutation of BRAF V600E, 27 histology samples taken from patients with skin melanoma residing in the Krasnodar territory were examined by means of defining the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PFLP assay). Our studies revealed the BRAF V600E mutation in 26 of 27 histology samples of skin melanoma. It was shown that the mutation is not associated with any sex-related, age-related, clinical and pathological features of the tumor.