is not generally thought of as being caused by ‘cancer genes’ like, say, or cancer. Previous have estimated that only 2% to 2.5% of melanoma cases are genetic, so public health messaging in relation to the cancer has focused on limiting sun exposure.
But a new study led by researchers and clinicians at the Cleveland Clinic in the US has found that the risk is much higher. “Hereditary cancers can wreak havoc through families and leave devastation in their wake,” said Dr Joshua Arbesman, the study’s senior author. “Genetic testing lets us proactively identify, screen and even treat these families to equip them with the tools they need to get the best healthcare possible.
” Genetic testing looks for harmful inherited variants in a person’s genes that put them at higher risk of getting certain types of cancer. US that genetic testing for hereditary variants is carried out where the probability of a person being a carrier is 5% or greater. Because melanoma is considered to have low heritability, genetic screening is often not considered.
The researchers genetically tested 400 patients with melanoma and a personal or family history of cancers for over 80 cancer predisposition genes. Within the group, 15.3% were diagnosed with a genetic variant conferring heritable susceptibility to melanoma.
This is seven-fold higher than previous estimates of 2% to 2.5%, and well above the 5% probability recommended for genetic testing. Of that 15.
3% of individuals, 67.2% had varian.