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Familial aggregation of melanoma risks in a large population-based sample of melanoma cases

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Abstract

ObjectiveMelanoma has been shown in numerous studies to be associated with sun exposure, and with host phenotypic factors of genetic origin. In this study we use information from a large series of incident cases of melanoma from an international population-based study to examine the patterns of incidence of melanoma in the first-degree relatives of these cases. Methods: A total of 2508 incident cases of melanoma provided information on basic demographic data and pigmentary characteristics, in addition to detailed information on family history of melanoma. These data were used to examine the incidence rates ratios of melanoma in the relatives of cases in relation to population rates, and also with respect to phenotypic characteristics of the probands that have been shown to be associated with melanoma: mole counts, hair color, eye color, and skin sensitivity to the sun. Results: The incidence rates reflect the underlying patterns of incidence in the source populations, with generally higher rates in the Australian sample, low rates in Italy, and intermediate rates in the USA and Canada. Also, rates are higher in men than in women, except at very young ages. Phenotypic characteristics of the probands were only weakly associated with the observed rates in the relatives although there is a strong inverse association with age at diagnosis. Cumulative risk of melanoma rises to 6.9 (6.1) at age 80 in male (female) first-degree relatives of cases, and to 10.8 (9.5) in relatives of cases diagnosed before age 50. Conclusions: Relatives of cases diagnosed with melanoma are at considerable lifetime risk of the disease, especially if the case is diagnosed at a young age.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Colin B. Begg, Amanda Hummer & Urvi Mujumdar

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 307 East 63rd Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Colin B. Begg

  3. The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Bruce K. Armstrong & Anne Kricker

  4. Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, Canada

    Loraine D. Marrett

  5. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Robert C. Millikan

  6. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Stephen B. Gruber

  7. University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

    Hoda Anton-Culver

  8. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA

    Judith B. Klotz

  9. Centro per la Prevenzione Oncologia, Torino, Piemonte, Italy

    Roberto Zanetti

  10. British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada

    Richard P. Gallagher

  11. University of Tasmania, Hobart, TasmaniaAustralia

    Terence Dwyer

  12. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Timothy R. Rebbeck

  13. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Marrianne R. Berwick

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  1. Colin B. Begg
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Begg, C.B., Hummer, A., Mujumdar, U. et al. Familial aggregation of melanoma risks in a large population-based sample of melanoma cases. Cancer Causes Control 15, 957–965 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-004-2474-2

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