Gene boosts melanoma risk

Scientists have identified a gene that increases a person's risk of developing the most common form of melanoma skin cancer.

Researchers at the US National Cancer Institute said they've identified variant forms of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene that increase a person's risk of melanoma, even if the person has dark skin pigmentation.

Looking for an association between inherited variant forms of MC1R and the development of melanoma, the researchers studied melanomas in 85 people at the Bufalini Hospital in Cesena, Italy, and 112 patients at the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco.

"Knowing who is at greater risk for melanoma due to heredity, and understanding the pathways leading to cancer, are important steps in addressing the disease," said Dr Elias A. Zerhouni, director of the US National Institutes of Health.

The findings are published in the June 29 online edition of the journal Science. – (HealthDayNews)

June 2006