The Queensland Study of Melanoma: environmental and genetic associations (Q-MEGA); study design, baseline characteristics, and repeatability of phenotype and sun exposure measures.
Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) is a major health issue in Queensland, Australia, which has the world's highest incidence. Recent molecular and epidemiologic studies suggest that CMM arises through multiple etiological pathways involving gene-environment interactions. Understanding the potential mechanisms leading to CMM requires larger studies than those previously conducted. This article describes the design and baseline characteristics of Q-MEGA, the Queensland Study of Melanoma: Environmental and Genetic Associations, which followed up 4 population-based samples of CMM patients in Queensland, including children, adolescents, men aged over 50, and a large sample of adult cases and their families, including twins. Q-MEGA aims to investigate the roles of genetic and environmental factors, and their interaction, in the etiology of melanoma. Three thousand, four hundred and seventy-one participants took part in the follow-up study and were administered a computer-assisted telephone interview in 2002-2005. Updated data on environmental and phenotypic risk factors, and 2777 blood samples were collected from interviewed participants as well as a subset of relatives. This study provides a large and well-described population-based sample of CMM cases with follow-up data. Characteristics of the cases and repeatability of sun exposure and phenotype measures between the baseline and the follow-up surveys, from 6 to 17 years later, are also described.
Baxter
Amanda J
AJ
Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Hughes
Maria Celia
MC
Kvaskoff
Marina
M
Siskind
Victor
V
Shekar
Sri
S
Aitken
Joanne F
JF
Green
Adele C
AC
Duffy
David L
DL
Hayward
Nicholas K
NK
Martin
Nicholas G
NG
Whiteman
David C
DC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic