Compositions and methods for detecting cancer metastasis

1. A method for determining the risk of melanoma metastasis in a subject, the method comprising:

(a) analyzing BAP1 nucleic acid from a cell in a sample obtained from a subject,

(b) detecting the presence of a truncating mutation in the BAP1 nucleic acid, wherein the mutation is selected from the group consisting of:

i. a nonsense mutation selected from the group consisting of Q36X, W196X and Q253X of BAP1;

ii. an insertion or deletion mutation in exon 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 or 17 of BAP1; and

iii. a splice acceptor mutation in exon 16 of BAP1; and

(c) identifying the subject as having an increased risk for metastasis when a mutation is detected.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the melanoma is uveal melanoma.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a tumor sample.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the sample is collected from a primary tumor or from a circulating tumor cell.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the circulating tumor cell is collected from a bodily fluid.

6. A method for prognosing melanoma in a subject, the method comprising:

(a) analyzing BAP1 nucleic acid from a cell in a sample obtained from a subject,

(b) detecting the presence of a truncating mutation in the BAP1 nucleic acid, wherein the mutation is selected from the group consisting of:

i. a nonsense mutation selected from the group consisting of Q36X, W196X and Q253X of BAP1; and

ii. an insertion or deletion mutation in exon 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 of BAP1; and

(c) identifying the subject as having poor prognosis when a mutation is detected.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the melanoma is uveal melanoma.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sample is a tumor sample.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample is collected from a primary tumor or from a circulating tumor cell.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the circulating tumor cell is collected from a bodily fluid.