1. ¹Department of Dermatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
2. ²Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
3. ³Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Correspondence: Dr Lisa A. Cannon-Albright, Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, 391 Chipeta Way, Suite D, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA. E-mail: lisa@genepi.med.utah.edu

Received 25 January 2006; Revised 5 June 2006; Accepted 24 June 2006; Published online 10 August 2006.

Abstract

Using the unique Utah Population Database, which links Utah genealogical data with Utah cancer data, we examined risks for other cancers among relatives of 4,079 melanoma cases. Age- and sex-specific rates for 35 different cancer sites were calculated, and used to estimate relative risks among relatives. In addition to the well-recognized risk for melanoma among first-degree relatives, we found significantly increased risks for prostate, breast, and colon cancers, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, ranging from 32 to 72% increased risk. Among second-degree relatives, in addition to increased risk for melanoma, we identified significantly increased risks for prostate cancer and multiple myeloma (27 and 53% increase, respectively). Among first-degree relatives of melanoma cases diagnosed before the age of 40 years, we found significantly elevated risks for cutaneous melanoma (380% increase) and prostate cancer (83% increase). Significantly increased risks for prostate cancer and multiple myeloma in both first- and second-degree relatives of melanoma cases are suggestive of heritable cancer syndromes. The increased risks for five additional cancer types in first-degree relatives of melanoma cases suggest that individuals with a family history of melanoma should strictly adhere to recommended screenings for all cancers.