title: Differences in telomere length between sporadic and familial cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several pieces of evidence indicate that a complex relationship exists between constitutional telomere length (TL) and the risk of cutaneous melanoma. Although the general perception is that longer telomeres increase melanoma risk, some studies do not support this association. We hypothesize that discordant data are due to the characteristics of the studied populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association of TL with familial and sporadic melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  TL was measured by multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction in leukocytes from 310 patients with melanoma according to familial/sporadic and single/multiple cancers and 216 age-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with sporadic melanoma were found to have shorter telomeres compared with those with familial melanoma. In addition, shorter telomeres, while tending to reduce the risk of familial melanoma regardless of single or multiple tumours, nearly trebled the risk of single sporadic melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first time that TL has been correlated to opposite effects on melanoma risk according to the presence or absence of familial predisposition. Individual susceptibility to melanoma should be taken into account when assessing the role of TL as a risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, 35128, Padova, Italy. chiara.menin@ioveneto.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menin
authors.affiliation: Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bojnik
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials and Biostatistics Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Bianco
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elefanti
authors.affiliation: Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gianesin
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keppel
authors.affiliation: Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stagni
authors.affiliation: Surgery Branch, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mocellin
authors.affiliation: Oncology Surgery Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchiato
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, 35128, Padova, Italy.|Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Rossi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050763:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p18 / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C000614131:CDKN2A protein, human; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050763:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p18