In a population-based study of 912 cutaneous melanoma patients, higher (> = T2b) but not lower (< = T2a) stage tumors with either NRAS or BRAF mutation had a significantly poorer melanoma-specific survival rate as compared with tumors harboring wild type NRAS and BRAF, after adjusting for other prognostic factors. The gene discussed is NRAS; the disease is cutaneous melanoma.