The V600E mutation (valine at codon 600 is substituted by glutamic acid) of the BRAF oncogene is present in approximately 50% of patients, leading to the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway; on the other hand, about 30% of melanomas harbour the NRAS mutation, known to be associated with increased activation of both the MAPK and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways3. This evidence concerns the gene BRAF and melanoma.