title: Role of the EGF +61A>G polymorphism in melanoma pathogenesis: an experience on a large series of Italian cases and controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A single nucleotide polymorphism (61A>G) in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene has been implicated in both melanoma pathogenesis and increased melanoma risk. To further evaluate this association, we conducted a case-control study in a clinic-based Italian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with less than 10 (N = 127) or more than 100 (N = 128) benign nevi, and patients with cutaneous melanoma (N = 418) were investigated for the EGF +61A>G polymorphism, using an automated sequencing approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, no difference in EGF genotype frequencies was observed among subjects with different number of nevi as well as when non-melanoma healthy controls were compared with the melanoma patients. However, a heterogeneous distribution of the frequencies of the G/G genotype was detected among cases and controls originating from North Italy (21.1 and 18.3%, respectively) vs. those from South Italy (12.6 and 17.1%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings further suggest that EGF +61A>G polymorphism may have a limited impact on predisposition and/or pathogenesis of melanoma and its prevalence may vary in different populations.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Sassari, Italy. casulam@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casula
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alaibac
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pizzichetta
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.forename: Paolo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ascierto
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stanganelli
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canzanella
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zattra
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor