Linkage mapping of melanoma (MLM) using 172 microsatellite markers

• Published in: Genomics (San Diego, Calif.) Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 939 - 947
• Main Authors: Nancarrow, Derek J., Walker, Graeme J., Weber, James L., Walters, Marilyn K., Palmer, Jane M., Hayward, Nicholas K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.12.1992; Elsevier
• Subjects: 550400 - Genetics; BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; Biological and medical sciences; CARCINOMAS; Chromosome Mapping; CHROMOSOMES; Dermatology; DETECTION; DISEASES; DNA, Satellite - genetics; EPITHELIOMAS; ETIOLOGY; Female; GENE MUTATIONS; Genetic Linkage; GENETIC MAPPING; Genetic Markers; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; HUMAN CHROMOSOMES; Humans; Lod Score; Male; MAPPING; Medical sciences; Melanoma - genetics; MELANOMAS; MUTATIONS; NEOPLASMS; Pedigree; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Genetic mapping; Human; Heterogeneity; Skin disease; Linkage; Gene; Genetic marker; Risk factor; Malignant melanoma; Predisposition; Malignant tumor; Genetic disease
• ISSN: 0888-7543; 1089-8646
• DOI: 10.1016/S0888-7543(05)80115-6

The incidence of malignant melanoma is currently increasing faster than any other cancer and in 5–12% of cases occurs in a familial context in which the disease cosegregates as an autosomal dominant trait. To identify the location of genes that predispose individuals to familial melanoma (MLM), we have carried out linkage analysis in three large Australian melanoma pedigrees using 172 microsatellite markers spread across all autosomes. Three additional smaller families were typed for 70 of the same markers. In five of the six families we found lod scores between 1.0 and 2.3, which may provide evidence for the location of melanoma genes in proximity to some of these markers. If this turns out to be the case, these data potentially demonstrate that MLM is genetically heterogeneous since there was no marker for which all families gave significantly high LODs. These data provide the foundation for an exclusion map for melanoma and, more importantly, highlight areas of the genome for others to substantiate the potential positions of some of the genes that may be responsible for susceptibility to MLM.