Clinical, Laboratory, and Epidemiologic Characterization of Individuals and Families at High Risk of Melanoma

NCT ID: NCT00040352

Last Updated: 2026-01-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 3000 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2002-07-01

Brief Summary

This study will investigate how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of melanoma, a type of skin cancer, and related conditions.

Individuals >=4 weeks with a personal or family history of melanoma or atypical spitzoid/Spitz tumor may be eligible for this study. Participants will:

• Fill out one or two questionnaires about their personal and family medical history.
• Provide written consent for researchers to review their medical records and pathology materials related to their care and those of deceased relatives with melanomas, tumors, cancer, or other related illnesses for whom they are the next-of-kin or legally authorized representative.
• Donate a blood or cheek cell sample to be used for genetic studies. (The blood sample is collected through a needle in an arm vein. The cheek cell sample is obtained either by gently brushing the inside of the mouth with a soft brush or by swishing a tablespoon of mouthwash and then spitting it into a container.)
• Undergo a skin biopsy (removal of a small piece of skin tissue) for genetic study. For this procedure, the area of skin to be removed is numbed with a local anesthetic and a 1/4-inch piece of skin is excised with a cookie cutter-like instrument. The wound is then covered with a band-aid.

Participants may be asked to travel to the NIH Clinical Center for evaluation, including a medical history, physical examination, and some of the following procedures:

• Full body skin examination to evaluate the type and number of moles and document any evidence of sun damage to the skin. The examination involves all the skin from the scalp to the bottoms of the feet. After the examination, a medical photographer will photograph the skin, with close-ups of skin lesions marked by the examiner. If there are parts of the skin the participant does not want examined or photographed, he or she can tell the examiner.
• Blood draw of about 120 milliliters (4 ounces) or less
• Skin biopsy
• Cheek cell sample
• X-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies to detect tumors or changes in tumors or other types of changes in specific tissues. MRI is a diagnostic test that uses strong magnetic fields and radiowaves to examine body tissues. The subject lies on a table that is moved into a large tunnel-like machine (the scanner) for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

When the tests are finished, a doctor will discuss the results with the participant and the need, if any, for clinical follow-up.

Detailed Description

Study Description:

Melanoma-prone families and individuals with risk factors for melanoma, including people with Spitzoid tumors and giant congenital nevi, are human models of susceptibility to neoplasia from which mechanisms of cancer susceptibility may be elucidated. For most of the high-risk cancer susceptibility genes, including CDKN2A and CDK4 in melanoma-prone families, germline mutations conferring risk have been found through family studies. Investigations of individuals and families at high risk of melanoma have led to etiologic clues that are important in the general population and have identified persons most likely to benefit from chemoprevention trials and screening programs aimed at early diagnosis of melanoma.

Objectives:

1. To evaluate and define the clinical spectrum and natural history of disease in syndromes predisposing to melanoma

2. To evaluate potential precursor states of disease in individuals and families at risk

3. To quantify risks of melanoma, pancreatic cancer, and other cancers in family members and individuals with an elevated risk for melanoma

4. To map, clone, and determine function of tumor susceptibility genes in melanoma-prone families, including modifier genes such as pigmentation or dysplastic nevi genes

5. To identify genetic determinants and gene-environmental interactions conferring melanoma (and other cancer) risk in individuals and families

6. To evaluate gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in melanoma (and other cancer) formation

7. To characterize genetic alternations in precursor lesions and melanomas that occur in individuals and families with an increased risk of melanoma.

8. To educate and counsel study participants about their melanoma risk and methods for primary and secondary prevention of melanoma

9. To develop educational materials for medical professionals and high-risk family members

Endpoints:

Primary endpoints:

All cancers that occur in individuals and families at high risk of melanoma

Secondary endpoints:

Secondary endpoints are markers of pre-malignant conditions, such as dysplastic nevi, giant congenital nevi, and Spitzoid tumors

Conditions

Melanoma; Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: FAMILY_BASED
• Study Time Perspective: OTHER

Study Groups

Affected Individual

An individual with personal medical history of melanoma of an unusual type, pattern, or number, a known or suspected condition predisposing to melanoma, either genetic or congenital factors (giant congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitzoid tumors), or unusual demographic features, or any of the other criteria noted in Section 4.1 of the protocol

No interventions assigned to this group

Unaffected individual

A family member of an affected participant. Family members may include parents, siblings, children or extended family.

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• On referral, persons >=4 weeks old of any sex, race or ethnicity will be considered for inclusion in the study because of the criteria noted below.
• Affected: An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be eligible to participate in this study:

• personal medical history of melanoma of an unusual type, pattern, or number diagnosed at any age; or,
• known or suspected factor(s) predisposing to melanoma, either genetic or congenital factors (giant congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitzoid tumors), or unusual demographic features (e.g., very young age of onset, multiple melanomas, previous history of heritable retinoblastoma, Hodgkin s disease, lymphoma, immunodeficiency syndrome, or organ transplant).
• Ability of the individual or their parent or legal guardian, to understand, and their willingness to provide informed consent.
• Unaffected: An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be eligible to participate in this study:

• family medical history of melanoma of an unusual type, pattern, or number; or,
• known or suspected factor(s) predisposing to melanoma, either genetic or congenital factors (giant congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi. Spitzoid tumors), or unusual demographic features (e.g., very young age of onset, multiple melanomas, previous history of heritable retinoblastoma, Hodgkin s disease, lymphoma, immunodeficiency syndrome, or organ transplant).
• Ability of the individual or their parent, or legal guardian to understand, and their willingness to provide informed consent.
• Personal and family medical history must be verified through questionnaires, interviews, and review of pathology slides and medical records.

Exclusion Criteria

• Referred individuals and families for whom reported diagnoses cannot be verified;
• Inability to provide informed consent

• Minimum Eligible Age: 4 Weeks
• Maximum Eligible Age: 99 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Michael R Sargen, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Locations

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

NCI Family Study Referrals

Role: CONTACT

ncifamilystudyreferrals@mail.nih.gov

(800) 518-8474

Michael R Sargen, M.D.

Role: CONTACT

michael.sargen@nih.gov

(240) 276-7354

Facility Contacts

For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact National Cancer Institute Referral Office

Role: primary

888-624-1937

For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact National Cancer Institute Referral Office

Role: primary

888-624-1937

References

Liang X, Pfeiffer RM, Li WQ, Brossard M, Burke LS, Wheeler W, Calista D, Fargnoli MC, Ghiorzo P, Peris K, Bianchi-Scarra G, Chaudru V, Zelenika D, Maeder D, Burdette L, Yeager M, Chanock S, Landi MT, Demenais F, Tucker MA, Goldstein AM, Yang XR. Association of genetic variants in CDK6 and XRCC1 with the risk of dysplastic nevi in melanoma-prone families. J Invest Dermatol. 2014 Feb;134(2):481-487. doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.316. Epub 2013 Jul 26.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 23892592 (View on PubMed)

Goldstein AM, Tucker MA. Dysplastic nevi and melanoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2013 Apr;22(4):528-32. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-12-1346.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 23549396 (View on PubMed)

Yang XR, Rotunno M, Xiao Y, Ingvar C, Helgadottir H, Pastorino L, van Doorn R, Bennett H, Graham C, Sampson JN, Malasky M, Vogt A, Zhu B, Bianchi-Scarra G, Bruno W, Queirolo P, Fornarini G, Hansson J, Tuominen R, Burdett L, Hicks B, Hutchinson A, Jones K, Yeager M, Chanock SJ, Landi MT, Hoiom V, Olsson H, Gruis N, Ghiorzo P, Tucker MA, Goldstein AM. Multiple rare variants in high-risk pancreatic cancer-related genes may increase risk for pancreatic cancer in a subset of patients with and without germline CDKN2A mutations. Hum Genet. 2016 Nov;135(11):1241-1249. doi: 10.1007/s00439-016-1715-1. Epub 2016 Jul 23.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 27449771 (View on PubMed)

Sargen MR, Pfeiffer RM, Elder DE, Yang XR, Goldstein AM, Tucker MA. The Impact of Longitudinal Surveillance on Tumor Thickness for Melanoma-Prone Families with and without Pathogenic Germline Variants of CDKN2A and CDK4. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021 Apr;30(4):676-681. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-1521.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 33811164 (View on PubMed)

Sargen MR, Pfeiffer RM, Yang XR, Tucker MA, Goldstein AM. Variation in Cutaneous Patterns of Melanomagenesis According to Germline CDKN2A/CDK4 Status in Melanoma-Prone Families. J Invest Dermatol. 2020 Jan;140(1):174-181.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2019.06.138. Epub 2019 Jul 18.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 31326397 (View on PubMed)

Tucker MA, Elder DE, Curry M, Fraser MC, Pichler V, Zametkin D, Yang XR, Goldstein AM. Risks of Melanoma and Other Cancers in Melanoma-Prone Families over 4 Decades. J Invest Dermatol. 2018 Jul;138(7):1620-1626. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.01.021. Epub 2018 Feb 8.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 29408205 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

https://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/cgi/detail.cgi?A_2002-C-0211.html

NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Other Identifiers

020211

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

NCT00045240

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: nct_alias

02-C-0211

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id