Germline cancer susceptibility in individuals with melanoma

Abstract

Background

Prior studies have estimated a small number of individuals with melanoma (2-2.5%) have germline cancer predisposition, yet a recent twin study suggested melanoma has the highest hereditability among cancers.

Objective

To determine the incidence of hereditary melanoma and characterize the spectrum of cancer predisposition genes that may increase the risk of melanoma.

Methods

400 individuals with melanoma and personal or family history of cancers underwent germline testing of >80 cancer predisposition genes. Comparative analysis of germline data was performed on 3 additional oncologic and dermatologic datasets.

Results

Germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants were identified in 15.3% (61) individuals with melanoma. Most variants (41, 67%) involved genes considered unrelated to melanoma (BLM, BRIP1, CHEK2, MLH1, MSH2, PMS2, RAD51C). A third (20, 33%) were in genes previously associated with familial melanoma (BAP1, BRCA2, CDKN2A, MITF, TP53). Nearly half (30, 46.9%) of P/LP variants were in HRD genes. Validation cohorts demonstrated P/LP rates of 10.6% from an unselected oncologic cohort, 15.8% from a selected commercial testing cohort and 14.5% from a highly selected dermatologic study.

Limitations

Cohorts with varying degrees of selection, some retrospective.

Conclusion

Germline predisposition in individuals with melanoma is common, with clinically actionable findings diagnosed in 10.6% to 15.8%.