Family Studies

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Most Genetic Epidemiology Branch investigations evaluate the contributions of host susceptibility and environmental exposure in the development of cancer. In family studies, the host susceptibility measure is frequently an alteration in specific gene(s). These studies tend to be very long term with varying activity. Although two genes associated with melanoma susceptibility have been identified (CDKN2A and CDK4), alterations in these genes are found in only a small percentage of melanoma-prone families. The search for other genes continues; in collaboration with an international consortium (GenoMEL), a search for new melanoma susceptibility genes continues both within families and genome-wide association studies. In the American and Italian melanoma-prone families, we are using novel technologies including array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and next generation sequencing (exomic and whole genome) to search for new high-risk melanoma susceptibility genes. In the past year, we have found another high-risk susceptibility gene, POT-1 in Italian and American families. We continue to accrue and evaluate new families in both the U.S., Italy, and Spain. We have continued to evaluate families of individuals with heritable retinoblastoma and melanoma. We are conducting exome sequencing in retinoblastoma survivors who have developed second malignancies. The study of familial chordoma, a rare, low-grade, malignant bone tumor derived from remnants of the notochord, was expanded to include additional families. Although we have reported duplications of the T gene (brachyury) as a major genetic risk factor for familial chordoma, several families do not have abnormalities in the T gene. We are conducting next generation exomic sequencing in the families without identified high risk susceptibility genes. Studying families with lymphoproliferative cancers has been a long-standing interest. We have collaborated with the Genetic Epidemiology of CLL Consortium to conduct la