Two Cancers, One Gene. Why Some People in Families Develop Melanoma or Pancreas Cancer, While Still Others Never Develop Cancer.

Mayo Clinic3 enrolled

Overview

Individuals who are affected with pancreas cancer and melanoma as well as those without either cancer who have been identified as 1st or 2nd degree relatives of family members with pancreas cancer and melanoma will be asked to participate. The participant will be asked to complete a survey about their health and family history of cancer and to give a blood sample for specific gene testing and storage for future research studies.The overall goal of this study is to understand the factors that increase susceptibility and expression of pancreatic cancer and melanoma in high risk families.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Pancreas Cancer Melanoma

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals who are affected with pancreas cancer and melanoma as well as those without either cancer who have been identified as 1st or 2nd degree relatives of family members with pancreas cancer and melanoma. Exclusion Criteria: * Under the age of 18, Non-English speaking or unable to provide informed consent, inmates.

Locations (1)

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Genomic and risk factor differences among family members who share identical predisposing CDKN2A gene mutations, with different phenotypes; will discover patterns of tumorigenesis, tissue specificity, gene-gene, and gene-environment interactions.

Genotypes of potential modifier genes will be identified in multiple kindreds that feature pancreatic cancer and melanoma and known to carry CDKN2A germline mutations. The investigators will then determine common germline variants in potential CDKN2A mutant carriers using targeted sequencing and search for genetic modifiers by performing Illumina HumanOmni5Exome-4 Beadchip with Infinium LCG on germline DNA. The Illumina microarray contains over 4.5 million markers, of which 528,675 are exonic, and includes over 2.6 million SNPs that would be considered common. The investigators will analyze the genetic and risk factor data collected through the completed surveys by participants using both statistical genetic and machine learning methods. As a means of extension and potential validation, the investigators will then similarly study up to 200 members who are mutation carriers in 39 other CDKN2A mutation-positive kindreds.

Time frame: Each participant provides a research blood sample and completes a questionnaire.This is the duration of their the participant's direct involvement. The duration of generating genotypes and analysis of risk factors may extend up to two years.