HRAS and melanoma: To gain insight into the molecular genetics of melanoma of the female genital tract and to its DNA MMR status, in the present study we systematically investigated the mutational status of eight genes whose products are critically involved in the MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, and GNAQ/11 pathways, such as BRAF, NRAS, HRAS, KRAS, c-KIT, PI3K, GNAQ, and GNA11, by employing either real-time PCR coupled with fluorescence melting curve analysis for mutation-specific PCR detection, or PCR followed by direct sequencing techniques, along with studies to determine the DNA MMR status using immunohistochemistry.