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Welcome to GenoMEL

We are a world leader in familial melanoma research. Our website contains a wealth of information about our research consortium and includes interactive materials for medical professionals, melanoma patients and their families, and the general public.

 

Leeds University Logo
GenoMEL is an international research consortium coordinated by the University of Leeds
FP6 logo
GenoMEL is an FP6 project and as such is funded by the European Commission
National Institute of Health logo
GenoMEL also receives substantial support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) (CA83115).

September News

New GenoMEL paper
The results from the first GenoMEL online questionnaire have resulted in another publication. Entitled, 'Predictors of Sun Protection Behaviors and Severe Sunburn in an International Online Study', the paper has been published online by the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. This paper is a tribute to the collaborative nature of GenoMEL, since it reports the work of so many of our members across the globe. A plain English summary of the paper will be added to the website shortly.

Upcoming meetings
If you know of any melanoma meetings in the next 18 months please email us at info@genomel.org so we can update the website calendar.

Posted on 27 August 2010 | 3:54 pm by The Editor

 Meetings 

Forthcoming meetings for 2010 and 2011

 Podcasts 

Click here for our podcasts

News

August 2010

GenoMEL Exchange Fund (GEF) Update
There were three successful applications to the recent GEF call. Dr Judith Wendt will be visiting Leeds to improve her expertise in epidemiology and will work on the determinants of melanoma susceptibility. Prof Lisa Cannon-Albright and Prof Julia Newton Bishop obtained funding for two separate meetings to develop new collaborative projects.

Posted on 30 July 2010 | 4:38 pm by The Editor

 Meetings 

Forthcoming meetings for 2010 and 2011

 Podcasts 

Click here for our podcasts



2010 GenoMEL meeting
Thank you to everyone who attended the recent meeting in Leeds. Over 100 people attended from Europe, North America and Australia.


Posted on 2 July 2010 | 3:27 pm by The Editor

 Meetings 

Forthcoming meetings for 2010 and 2011

 Podcasts 

Click here for our podcasts

JUNE NEWS

The 2010 Annual meeting

The annual GenoMEL meeting is taking place this month in Leeds, UK. Over 100 people will attend from all around the world.


A new consortium is currently being established to research genes and environmental exposures that may predict relapse from melanoma. This consortium will build on GenoMEL’s work in identifying susceptibility genes. For further information please see www.biogenomel.eu

Posted on 2 June 2010 | 12:21 pm by The Editor

 Meetings 

Forthcoming meetings for 2010 and 2011

 Podcasts 

Click here for our podcasts

MAY NEWS



Over 1,000 dermoscopy app downloads!

GenoMEL’s dermoscopy app has now been downloaded over 1,000 times. If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch you can download a version of GenoMEL’s dermoscopy tutorial from iTunes.


The 2010 Annual meeting

Registration for the annual meeting closes on the 21st May. The meeting web page is available here.

Posted on 30 April 2010 | 10:11 am by The Editor

 Meetings 

Forthcoming meetings for 2010 and 2011

 Podcasts 

Click here for our podcasts

NEWS APRIL 2010

Dealing with a diagnosis of melanoma
GenoMEL's interactive presentation to help patients deal with a diagnosis has been extensively revised. The presentation contains written information, photographs and videos of patients talking about their experiences. To find the presentation please click here.

New GenoMEL Podcast!
A new podcast is available featuring a follow-up interview with Dr. Ruby Chang. The main subject is the results of her pooled analysis of melanoma risk.
The 2010 Annual meeting

The annual meeting web page is now available here.

Posted on 30 March 2010 | 2:54 pm by The Editor

 Meetings 

Forthcoming meetings for 2010 and 2011

 Podcasts 

Click here for our podcasts

NEWS MARCH 2010



GenoMEL has an iPhone app!
GenoMEL's dermoscopy tutorial has been converted into an iPhone app. If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch you can download the app from iTunes. We are also working on an Android version that will hopefully be available later this year.


The 2010 Annual meeting
The annual meeting web page is now available.



If you have any comments about the new website please contact us at info@genomel.org
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Posted on 1 March 2010 | 1:26 pm by The Editor

 Meetings 

Forthcoming meetings for 2010 and 2011

 Podcasts 

Click here for our podcasts

News February 2010


  • Welcome to the new GenoMEL website!

To help visitors find what they want we have reorganised our website into three main sections:

- A section for patients and the public who want to learn more about melanoma.

- A section for doctors who want to learn more about melanoma, particularly familial melanoma.

- A section describing our research consortium.




  • The 2010 Annual meeting
The annual meeting web page is now available.

If you have any comments about the new website please contact us at info@genomel.org
.
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Posted on 1 February 2010 | 4:42 pm by The Editor

 Meetings 

Forthcoming meetings for 2010 and 2011

 Podcasts 

Click here for our podcasts

News January 2010

100,000 visitors
  • 100,000 visitors!
    The GenoMEL website has now received over 100,000 visitors! If you have any thoughts on how we can improve this website please get in touch.
  • New GenoMEL tutorial promoting dermoscopy
    GenoMEL has created a new tutorial for clinicians. This tutorial is a basic introduction to dermoscopy and contains 100’s of images to help clinicians develop their diagnostic skill. Dermoscopy is a technique that improves the early recognition of melanoma. To view the tutorial please click here.
  • The ‘Predicting Benefit from Interferon Therapy in Melanoma’ study
    GenoMEL’s Leeds team is conducting a study using information and samples from the following European interferon studies: AIM HIGH, EORTC 18952 and EORTC 18991. If you would like further information please see the main panel to the left.

Posted on 14 January 2010 | 11:54 am by The Editor

 Meetings 

Forthcoming meetings for 2010 and 2011

 Podcasts 

Click here for our podcasts

This site and presentations were created by NKD Ltd

Glossary

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Associated
When two things are associated they are connected or joined in some way. It may be that one thing causes the other but they could be linked in some other way. For instance, if both things were caused by a separate, third thing.
Clinical geneticist
A doctor concerned with the care of people with genetic conditions.
Dermatologist
A specialist 'skin' doctor.
Freckle
A small brown patch on the skin that becomes darker following exposure to sunlight. Freckles can vary from light brown to dark brown, and are often found on the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose.
Genes
Genes are pieces of genetic 'code': they are the instructions or recipes that our bodies use for growth and repair.
GenoMEL
The Melanoma Genetics Consortium: an international, collaborative organisation researching the genetics of melanoma.
High-risk genes
Particular genes can make us more susceptible to diseases. If we have changes in them called mutations, and if the mutation significantly increase the risk of a disease (as compared to someone who does not have a mutation in the gene), it is called a high-risk gene.
IU
International Units
Melanoma
Melanoma is a form of cancer that develops from the pigment producing cells of the skin. If untreated it can spread through the body and is potentially fatal.
Microgram
A microgram (mcg) is a millionth of a gram.
Mutations
Mutations are changes or faults in our genes. Sometimes mutations can increase our chances of developing a disease.
Nervous system tumours
The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and other structures that control our bodies. A tumour is an abnormal growth, which can be cancerous (having the potential to spread around the body) or benign (the growth remains in a single spot but may continue to grow in size).
Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland that lies behind the stomach. It produces digestive juices and controls blood sugar levels.
Risk
We are using the word risk to mean the chances of something happening. For example, if something is more likely to happen to John than to Peter then John is at greater risk than Peter.
SPF
Sun Protection Factor
UVA
UVA is a form of ultraviolet radiation. It is sometimes called long wave UV or black light.
Uveal melanoma
Uveal melanoma is a melanoma that occurs either in the coloured part of the eye (the iris) or other tissues nearby. It is a rare type of cancer.
UV Index
The UV index is a measurement of how much ultraviolet radiation is reaching a particular place at a given time. UV index forecasts are sometimes given as part of weather reports.

References

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Physician Information References
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How common is the atypical mole syndrome phenotype in apparently sporadic melanoma?
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2. Cutler, C., W. Foulkes, J.-S. Brunet, et al.,
Cutaneous malignant melanoma in women is uncommonly associated with a family history of melanoma in first-degree relatives: a case control study.
Melanoma Research, 1996. 6: p. 435-440.
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3. Aitken, J.F., D.L. Duffy, A. Green, et al.,
Heterogeneity of melanoma risk in families of melanoma patients.
American Journal of Epidemiology, 1994. 140(11): p. 961-973.
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4. Bataille, V., R. Hiles, and J. Newton Bishop,
Retinoblastoma, melanoma and the atypical mole syndrome.
British Journal of Dermatology, 1995. 60: p. 622-626.
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5. Traboulsi, E.I., L.E. Zimmerman, and H.J. Manz,
Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma in Survivors of Heritable Retinoblastoma.
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6. McKusick, V.,
nline Mendelian Inheritance in Man.
2002.
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7. Li, F.P. and J.F. Fraumeni Jr,
Soft-Tissue Sarcomas, Breast Cancer, and other Neoplasms. A Familial Syndrome? Ann.
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8. Santibanez-Koref, M.F., J.M. Birch, A.L. Hartley, et al.,
p53 germline mutations in Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
Lancet, 1991. 338: p. 1490-1491.
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9. Travis, L.B., R.E. Curtis, H. Storm, et al.,
Risk of second malignant neoplasms among long-term survivors of testicular cancer.
J Natl Cancer Inst, 1997. 89(19): p. 1429-39.
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10. Paunu, N., E. Pukkala, P. Laippala, et al.,
Cancer incidence in families with multiple glioma patients.
Int J Cancer, 2002. 97(6): p. 819-22.
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11. Hisada, M., R.J. Biggar, M.H. Greene, et al.,
Solid tumors after chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Blood, 2001. 98(6): p. 1979-81.
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12. Harland, M, R. Meloni, N. Gruis, et al.,
Germline mutations of the CDKN2 gene in UK melanoma families, in Human Molecular Genetics.
1997. p. 2061-2067.
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13. Harland, M., E.A. Holland, P. Ghiorzo, et al.,
Mutation screening of the CDKN2A promoter in melanoma families.
Genes Chromosomes Cancer, 2000. 28(1): p. 45-57.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10738302
14. Harland, M., S. Mistry, D.T. Bishop, et al.,
A deep intronic mutation in CDKN2A is associated with disease in a subset of melanoma pedigrees.
Hum Mol Genet, 2001. 10(23): p. 2679-86.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11726555
15. Newton Bishop, J.A., M. Harland, D.C. Bennett, et al.,
Mutation testing in melanoma families: INK4A, CDK4 and INK4D.
Br J Cancer, 1999. 80(1-2): p. 295-300.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10390011
16. Bergman, W., P. Watson, J. de Jong, et al.,
Systemic cancer and the FAMMM syndrome.
British Journal of Cancer, 1990. 61: p. 932-936.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2372499
17. Lynch, H.T. and R.M. Fusaro,
Pancreatic cancer and the familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome.
Pancreas, 1991. 6(2): p. 127-131.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=1886881
18. Zuo, L., J. Weger, Q. Yang, et al.,
Germline mutations in the p16INK4a binding domain of CDK4 in familial melanoma.
Nature Genetics, 1996. 12(1): p. 97-99.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8528263
19. Randerson-Moor, J.A., M. Harland, S. Williams, et al.,
A germline deletion of p14(ARF) but not CDKN2A in a melanoma-neural system tumour syndrome family.
Hum Mol Genet, 2001. 10(1): p. 55-62.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=111367140
20. Valverde, P., E. Healy, I. Jackson, et al.,
Variants of the melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor gene are associated with red hair and fair skin in humans.
Nature Gentics, 1995. 11: p. 328-330.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=7581459
21. Bastiaens, M., J. ter Huurne, N. Gruis, et al.,
The melanocortin-1-receptor gene is the major freckle gene.
Hum Mol Genet, 2001. 10(16): p. 1701-8.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11487574
22. Valverde, P., E. Healy, S. Sikkink, et al.,
The Asp84Glu variant of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is associated with melanoma.
Human Molec Genet, 1996. 5(10): p. 1663-1666.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8894704
23. Palmer, J.S., D.L. Duffy, N.F. Box, et al.,
Melanocortin-1 receptor polymorphisms and risk of melanoma: is the association explained solely by pigmentation phenotype?
Am J Hum Genet, 2000. 66(1): p. 176-86.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10631149
24. Winsey, S.L., N.A. Haldar, H.P. Marsh, et al.,
A variant within the DNA repair gene XRCC3 is associated with the development of melanoma skin cancer.
Cancer Res, 2000. 60(20): p. 5612-6.
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25. Shahbazi, M., V. Pravica, N. Nasreen, et al.,
Association between functional polymorphism in EGF gene and malignant melanoma.
Lancet, 2002. 359(9304): p. 397-401.
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26. Clark, W.H., Jr., R.R. Reimer, M. Greene, et al.,
Origin of familial malignant melanomas from heritable melanocytic lesions. 'The B-K mole syndrome'.
Arch Dermatol, 1978. 114(5): p. 732-8.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=646394
27. Newton Bishop, J., M. Harland, R. Wachsmuth, et al.,
Genotype/phenotype and penetrance studies in melanoma families with germline CDKN2A mutations.
J Invest Dermatol, 2000. 114: p. 28-33.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10620111
28. Bishop, D.T., F. Demenais, A.M. Goldstein, et al.,
Geographical variation in the penetrance of CDKN2A mutations for melanoma.
J Natl Cancer Inst, 2002. 94(12): p. 894-903.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12072543
Consortium Information References
1. Harland, M., et al.,
Mutation screening of the CDKN2A promoter in melanoma families.
Genes Chromosomes Cancer, 2000. 28(1): p. 45-57.
2. Pollock PM, et al.,
Mutation analysis of the CDKN2A promoter in Australian melanoma families.
Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2001 32(1):p 89-94.
3. Liu, L., et al.,
Mutation of the CDKN2A5'UTR creates an aberrant initiation codon and predisposes to melanoma.
Nature Genetics, 1999. 21: p. 1-5.
4. Harland, M., et al.,
A deep intronic mutation in CDKN2A is associated with disease in a subset of melanoma pedigrees.
Hum Mol Genet, 2001. 10(23): p. 2679-86.
5. Randerson-Moor, J.A., et al.,
A germline deletion of p14(ARF) but not CDKN2A in a melanoma-neural system tumour syndrome family.
Hum Mol Genet, 2001. 10(1): p. 55-62.
6. Rizos, H., et al.,
A melanoma-associated germline mutation in exon 1beta inactivates p14ARF.
Oncogene, 2001. 20(39): p. 5543-7.
7. Gillanders, E., et al.,
Localization of a novel melanoma susceptibility locus to 1p22.
Am J Hum Genet, 2003. 73(2): p. 301-13.
8. Bishop, D.T., et al.,
Geographical variation in the penetrance of CDKN2A mutations for melanoma.
J Natl Cancer Inst, 2002. 94(12): p. 894-903.
9. Wachsmuth, R.C., et al.,
Heritability and gene-environment interactions for melanocytic nevus density examined in a U.K. adolescent twin study.
J Invest Dermatol, 2001. 117(2): p. 348-52.
10. Newton Bishop, J., et al.,
Genotype/phenotype and penetrance studies in melanoma families with germline CDKN2A mutations.
J Invest Dermatol, 2000. 114: p. 28-33.