Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. In 2009, there were nearly 69,000 estimated new cases of melanoma in the United States.

Metastatic melanoma develops through acquired mutations in cancer genes. To date, a handful of genes are known to acquire mutations and contribute to melanoma progression, however, many more remain to be discovered. Comprehensive cancer genome sequencing can identify recurring genetic alterations that will generate fundamentally new, targeted approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma.

As part of the Mutational Analysis of the Melanoma Genome Project, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) will sequence all known genes in melanoma specimens and patient-matched normal DNA to identify melanoma gene mutations. This effort will be conducted in partnership with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the private sector. Information gained from the study will be used at the NIH Clinical Center for therapies based on individual patients’ genetic profiles. In personalized medicine, patients are treated with therapies that are tailored to the specific gene mutations found in their tumors.

Get involved. Partner with us.

To learn more about partnership opportunities with the Mutational Analysis of the Melanoma Genome project, contact us:

Julie Wolf-Rodda, Director of Partnership Development
Phone: (301) 402-5311
E-mail: jwolf-rodda [at] fnih [dot] org