Familial melanoma and familial pancreatic cancer are not as common as familial breast or colon cancer. There are over 300 families in the Melanoma/Pancreatic Cancer Resource and we evaluate all families through the family study process.
These families include:
- Families with melanoma but without pancreatic cancer.
- Those with pancreatic cancer without melanoma.
- Families with both melanoma and pancreatic cancer.
Familial Melanoma
Familial melanoma is frequently associated with a skin condition known as atypical moles (link to definition) or dyplastic nevi. These families belong to a cancer syndrome know as Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma, or FAMMM.
The name FAMMM explains the features in this syndrome:
- A higher than normal mole count (sometimes hundreds) and
- moles with an unusual appearance, such as irregular borders or odd coloring
However, FAMMM family members may have these atypical moles or a high mole count and never have melanoma, or individuals who develop melanoma may not have either of these mole features. All family members who have a first degree (link to definition) relative in a FAMMM family with either FAMMM moles or melanoma maybe at high risk for melanoma. When caught early, melanoma can be successfully treated and should follow the Familial Melanoma Surveillance and Prevention recommendations.
Familial Pancreatic Cancer
Unlike some of the cancers that have been widely studied, there is far less known about pancreatic cancer. We do know that pancreatic cancer may associated with a variety of other cancers and syndromes. In certain of these syndromes, such as FAMMM, Hereditary Breast Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) and several hereditary colon cancer syndromes, genetic testing is available.
Pancreatic cancer in many of these syndromes is often less common than the other cancers. However, in individuals with FAMMM syndrome and a CDKN2A (p16) mutation, pancreatic cancer is the second most common cancer after melanoma.
In some families, pancreatic cancer is the predominant cancer and although progress is being made, so far no responsible genetic mutation has been identified. In these families, the risk of this disease is significantly increased in individuals closely related to someone who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Prevention and surveillance measures for pancreatic cancer are very limited. HCI is involved with other investigators in studies to improve understanding of the causes of pancreatic cancer in the hope that it will result in improved surveillance and treatment. See Available Studies
