Differential Risks for Melanoma: p16 and DNA Repair

Summary

The goal of this study is to find out if some people are more likely to get melanoma, a form of skin cancer, than others. People respond to the environment in different ways. Some may be born with genes that make them more likely to get this type of skin cancer. Genes are made up of DNA. DNA damage is one of the first steps in developing cancer. Each person has many ways to repair normal damage to their genes. Some people may have a lower level of this repair and that may make them more likely to get cancer. Some genes are important for DNA repair. The genes we want to test are thought to affect the rate at which DNA can be repaired. We also want to find out if sun habits are related to these levels of DNA repair or genetic mutations.

Conditions

• Melanoma
• Skin Melanoma

Interventions

OTHER

self-administered questionnaire and blood draw

Epidemiologic data will be collected via a self-administered questionnaire which will be distributed to subjects by a member of the study staff. It should take less than fifteen minutes to complete, and subjects will have the options of completing it at the time of their blood-drawing or filling it out at home and mailing it back to the study staff.

OTHER

self-administered questionnaire and blood draw

Epidemiologic data will be collected via a self-administered questionnaire which will be distributed to subjects by a member of the study staff. It should take less than fifteen minutes to complete, and subjects will have the options of completing it at the time of their blood-drawing or filling it out at home and mailing it back to the study staff.

OTHER

health questionnaire, blood draw and skin exam

Numbers will be randomly selected from a pool of prefixes. Numbers will be screened by computer for being working, non-business, non-fax, and non-modem numbers. After establishing eligibility for the study, we will send the potential control a letter further explaining the purpose of the study and its requirements. An interviewer will then call to arrange an appointment. During the interview, the subject will sign informed consent, be given the public health questionnaire, have 30 ml of blood drawn, and undergo the skin examination of arms and back.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of New Mexico

  collaborator OTHER

• Yale University

  collaborator OTHER

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Irlene Orlow, PH.D., M.S. · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

1997-02-28

Primary Completion

2011-04-30

Completion

2011-04-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations