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PATIENT
INFORMATION

Melanoma is a form of cancer that develops from the pigment producing cells of the skin. If untreated it can spread through the body with serious consequences.

In many parts of the world melanoma is becoming more common. However, it is still unusual to have more than one case of melanoma in a single family. When more than one person in a family has a melanoma, there might be something ‘running in the family’. That ‘something’ could mean other family members are more likely to get a melanoma than people outside the family.

Glossary

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

Terms and Conditions Privacy Statement

Click on the links below to view on-line presentations and other information for patients and their families.

The following information is aimed at_
People who want to know how to examine their moles.
People who have had a melanoma.
People who suspect that their family carries an increased risk of melanoma.
People who have been told that their family carries an increased risk of melanoma.

Glossary

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

Physician Information References
1. Newton, J.A., V. Bataille, K. Griffiths, et al.,: How common is the atypical mole syndrome phenotype in apparently sporadic melanoma?
J Am Acad Dermatol, 1993. 29: p. 989-996.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8245266
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.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9013481
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.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=7985658
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.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=7756125
5. Traboulsi, E.I., L.E. Zimmerman, and H.J. Manz,: Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma in Survivors of Heritable Retinoblastoma.
Arch Ophthalmology, 1988. 106: p. 1059-1061.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=3041943
6. McKusick, V.,: nline Mendelian Inheritance in Man.
2002.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=OMIM/dd>
7. Li, F.P. and J.F. Fraumeni Jr,: Soft-Tissue Sarcomas, Breast Cancer, and other Neoplasms. A Familial Syndrome? Ann.
Intern. Med., 1969. 71: p. 747-752.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=5360287
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.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=1683921
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.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9326912
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.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11857361
11. Hisada, M., R.J. Biggar, M.H. Greene, et al.,: Solid tumors after chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Blood, 2001. 98(6): p. 1979-81.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11535538
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.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9328469
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.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11059748
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.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11844511
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.

PATIENT
INFORMATION

Click on the links below to view on-line presentations and other information for patients and their families.

Looking after your moles

Sun protection and Vitamin D
after a diagnosis of Melanoma

A tool for assessing your risk
of Melanoma

Having a family history
of Melanoma

Melanoma - Dealing with
the diagnosis

Plain language summaries

Dealing with the diagnosis of
secondary melanoma

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Glossary

References

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PATIENTINFORMATION

Click on the links below to view on-line presentations and other information for patients and their families.

Glossary

References

PATIENT
INFORMATION