Melanoma Genomics: Sun Exposure & New Therapies

Genomics|Update|Current

Melanoma Genomics: Sun Exposure & New Therapies

CDC information: Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet light

Risk factors for melanoma include genes and family history, from the National Cancer Institute

A special supplement from Nature Outlook:  Melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer is on the rise in many parts of the world. But new treatments, and efforts to tell people how to prevent it, could mean we will soon gain the upper hand on the disease. November, 2014

The cancer that rises with the sun. 
David Holmes Nature, 515, S110–S111, 20 November 2014

Risk factors: Riddle of the rays 
Cassandra Willyard, Nature 515, S112–S113 (20 November 2014)

Epidemiology, risk factors, prevention, and early detection of melanoma.
Azoury SC, Lange JR. Surg Clin North Am. 2014 Oct;94(5):945-62

Did you know? 389 genes have been reported in relation to melanoma risk and outcomes, including 33 genomewide association studies. To find out more, check out the HuGE Navigator

Recent Genomic Insights

Interactions between ultraviolet light and MC1R and OCA2 variants are determinants of childhood nevus and freckle phenotypes. 
Anna E. Barón et al. CEBP, November 18, 2014

Genes and sun behaviors during childhood may play large role in future melanoma risk, American Association for Cancer Research, November 19, 2014

Editorial: Somatic mutations and immunotherapy outcome with CTLA-4 blockade in melanoma. 
Vassiliki A. Boussiotis, et al. NEJM, November 19, 2014.  

Genetic basis for clinical response to CTLA-4 blockade in melanoma. 
Alexandra Snyder, et al. NEJM, November 19, 2014