The Melanoma Genomics Managing Your Risk Study is about understanding the impact of informing people about their personal genetic risk of melanoma, and to see whether this could be used as a new approach for helping prevent melanoma and other skin cancers. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, but in many cases it can be prevented and if detected early then the prognosis is usually good. An individual’s genetic variation can influence their chances of developing melanoma, and this genetic risk information (in combination with information on preventative behaviours and skin checking) is a new potential strategy for helping prevent melanoma and other skin cancers and encouraging early detection.
We have recruited 1,025 participants from across Australia to take part in the Managing Your Risk Study. Recruitment is now closed. Participants in the study are randomly assigned to one of two study groups, a ‘genetic risk’ group or ‘usual advice’ group.
During the study, participants complete questionnaires and wear a small wristband over 10 days to measure how much sun (UV) their body is exposed to.
Australia has about 14,500 new melanoma diagnoses and over 1,700 deaths each year, and is a relatively common cancer, especially among young adults. Overall, Australia and New Zealand have the highest melanoma rates in the world. More than 80% of melanomas in Australia could be prevented through better sun protection, and when melanoma is detected at an early stage the prognosis is usually good. However, some people are unaware of their risk. This study aims to find out if giving information about melanoma genetic risk might be helpful for improving melanoma prevention and screening in the Australian population, as well as any other advantages or disadvantages of giving this type of information. We hope that the results from this study will help us to improve ways of preventing melanoma and other skin cancers, and perhaps other cancers in the future.
This study is funded through a 4-year National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grant and has undergone scientific peer review as part of the NHMRC funding process. The study has been endorsed by the Australian and New Zealand Melanoma Trials Group (ANZMTG; 04.17), which includes a scientific and consumer review process. This study is also registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12617000691347).
Professor Anne Cust
Cancer Epidemiologist, Sydney School of Public Health and Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney
Professor Ainsley Newson
Professor of Bioethics, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney
Professor Rachael Morton
Director of Health Economics, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney
Professor Michael Kimlin
Radiation Epidemiologist and Foundation Chair in Cancer Prevention, University of the Sunshine Coast
Associate Professor Louise Keogh
Health Sociologist, University of Melbourne
Dr Matthew Law
Statistical Geneticist, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane
Associate Professor Judy Kirk
Specialist in Cancer Genetics, Westmead Clinical School and Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney
Professor Peter Kanetsky
Chair and Program Leader of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute Professor of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida
Professor Graham Mann
Director, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU College of Health and Medicine
Professor Hugh Dawkins
Chief Health Advisor, HBF
Former Director of the Office of Population Health Genomics, Government of Western Australia
Dr Jacqueline Savard
Lecturer in Health Ethics, Law and Professionalism, Deakin University
Kate Dunlop
Director of the Centre for Genetics Education, NSW Health
Professor Lyndal Trevena
Professor, Primary Health Care, University of Sydney
Professor Mark Jenkins
Genetic Epidemiologist, Director of the Centre for Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Martin Allen
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury
Professor Phyllis Butow
NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Director of the Medical Psychology Research Unit, the University of Sydney
Associate Professor Sarah Wordsworth
Associate Professor, Health Economics Research Centre, University of Oxford
Dr Serigne Lo
Senior Research Fellow, Melanoma Institute Australia, University of Sydney
There are a number of factors that contribute to an individual’s chances of developing melanoma, these include:
Yes, there may be cancer research projects available at Register 4 and Cancer Council Victoria.