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Keywords | Melanoma | genetics | naevi | sun exposure |<br />
GenoMEL<br />
Genetic and environmental<br />
determinants of melanoma:<br />
translation into behavioural change<br />
Summary<br />
GenoMEL, formerly known as the Melanoma Genetics<br />
Consortium, has focused on the identifi cation of familial<br />
high-penetrance melanoma genes. To date, the consortium<br />
has been very successful in identifying susceptibility genes<br />
and developing joint data collection for gene/environment<br />
interaction studies. In order to continue its proactive role,<br />
GenoMEL is developing a multidisciplinary European platform<br />
with relevant input from international participants.<br />
This platform will also enable the investigation of attitudes<br />
to risk of melanoma in Europe, and translate that risk<br />
perception into behavioural change.<br />
Problem<br />
Melanoma is an important health issue within Europe because<br />
it continues to increase in incidence in many Member States<br />
and because it has a relatively fl at-age incidence curve, so<br />
that the tumour is disproportionately frequent in young persons.<br />
Furthermore, in the new European Member States, there<br />
are concerns that as affl uence increases incidence levels will<br />
rise precipitously if action is not taken to discourage risky<br />
behaviours in the sun. There are already, unfortunately, data<br />
suggesting that survival from melanoma is poorer in these<br />
European countries than in western European countries.<br />
Aim<br />
The objective of GenoMEL is to understand the genetic<br />
causes of melanoma and how the identifi ed susceptibility<br />
genes interact with the environment, predominantly with<br />
sun exposure. The intent is then to use the information<br />
obtained to improve on the ranking of risk factors for<br />
melanoma and to understand the phenotypic markers of<br />
those susceptibility genes. These fi ndings will then be converted<br />
into a web based tool, called a content management<br />
system (CMS), for use by the general public, in order to calculate<br />
individual risks of melanoma. The CMS will be assessed<br />
and correlated with reported behaviour in the sun. We will<br />
then ‘close the loop’ by designing materials for use primarily<br />
on the web but also as written materials to educate European<br />
people about the primary and secondary prevention<br />
of melanoma.<br />
A GenoMEL researcher at work.<br />
AETIOLOGY 91
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