general mutations or amplification in malignant melanoma gene typegene namealteration typefrequency of alteration within melanoma (%) proto- oncogenesnrasmutation15- 25 brafmutation50- 70 kitmutation2- 10 cdk4mutation, amplification0- 9 ctnnb1mutation2- 23 mitfamplification10- 16 ccnd1amplification6- 44 pik3camutation<5 akt3amplification40- 60 tumor suppressor genesink4amutation40- 87 arfmutation40- 70 ptenmutation5- 40 tp53mutation0- 25 many genes are altered genetically and epigenetically in cancers, which is one of the reasons cancer is so hard to combat. ink4a and pten are two genes that are in both tables 1 and 2 above, as they are both epigenetically and genetically mutated in melanoma cases. this is not uncommon, as cells need multiple changes to the genome to initiate a change as large as cancer. the epigenetic side of cancer research is growing and uncovering many overlaps like in the cases of ink4a and pten, giving a larger, more accurate image of cancer and melanoma. the complexity and variability of cancer epigenetics makes this a growing and important field. since epigenetic modifications are able to be reversed, this makes them a target for therapeutics and part of the future of cancer combat, and specifically melanoma, due to its deadliness and difficulty to catch. the genes listed above are only the beginning of a long list of available treatment areas that could potentially reverse or prevent melanoma if detected early.