Melanoma Genetics
A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Genomics and Genetic Diseases".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2020) | Viewed by 9149
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most common cancers in fair-skinned populations. At the population level, risk of developing the disease is largely attributed to solar ultraviolet radiation exposure. Populations with pale skin, or living at low latitudes, have a higher incidence of melanoma than those with dark skin or who live at high latitudes. Natural variation in skin pigmentation is genetically controlled; thus, genes regulating pigment (melanin) production were among the first risk loci for melanoma identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Likewise, genes influencing melanocytic naevus development, a well-characterized phenotypic risk factor for melanoma, were also found through GWAS to be strongly associated with melanoma susceptibility. Dozens of melanoma risk loci have now been identified through GWAS, and while many of these have pleiotropic effects on pigmentation or naevus development, others mediate their effects through such pathways as cell cycle control and telomere maintenance. Indeed, rare high penetrance mutations in genes related to these, and various other, cellular functions have been shown to cause ‘familial’ melanoma, or underlie more general cancer predisposition syndromes. Multiple melanoma susceptibility loci collectively contribute to an individual’s risk of melanoma, and polygenic risk scores can be estimated to predict lifetime probabilities of developing the disease. How much additional information such scores provide on top of routine phenotypic risk factor assessment is still to be determined. This is a critical point in relation to the clinical utility of implementing population-based genetic screening programmes for melanoma risk.
For this Special Issue, we solicit review articles, primary research papers, and methodological reports addressing all aspects of melanoma genetics, including, though not limited to: family and twin studies, population-based studies, associated phenotypic risk features, polygenic risk assessment, and cancer predisposition syndromes. We look forward to your contributions.
Prof. Nicholas K. Hayward
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- familial
- genetics
- genome-wide association study
- high pentrance
- low penetrance
- melanoma
- naevi
- phenotype
- pigmentation
- polygenic risk score
- population-based
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.
