Author Interviews, Dermatology, Melanoma / 06.03.2015
Genetic Study Confirms Most Pediatric Melanoma Linked To Sun Exposure
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Alberto Pappo, M.D.
Member, Oncology; Director, Solid Tumor Division
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Pappo: Researchers have identified three distinct subtypes of childhood and adolescent tumors of pigment-producing skin cells called melanocytes. The subtypes have different genetic alterations and often different outcomes for patients. The findings should aid efforts to improve diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, which is the most common skin cancer in children and adolescents.
The study provides the most comprehensive analysis yet of the genetic alteration underlying pediatric melanoma, including the first genetic evidence that sun damage causes melanoma in children and adolescents as well as adults. Researchers used whole genome sequencing and other techniques to study the normal and cancer genomes of 23 young patients with a variety of melanocytic tumors, including conventional melanoma. Patients ranged in age from 9 months to 19 years old.
The melanoma subtypes in this study included conventional melanoma, which scientists showed was the same disease in children, adolescents and adults. More than 90 percent of pediatric conventional melanoma had DNA changes linked to sun damage.
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