Understanding melanoma risk factors in young people

Researchers are trying to understand why some young people develop melanoma by studying their genes and environmental exposures. This study will collect blood samples and genetic information from about 200 people under age 30 who have been diagnosed with melanoma—including classic melanoma, spitzoid melanoma, or melanoma on congenital nevi. The researchers will analyze your genetic makeup and combine it with information about your environment to better understand what causes melanoma in young people.

Melanoma in children and young adults is unusual, and doctors don't fully understand why some young people develop it while others don't. By studying the genes and life circumstances of many young people with melanoma across Europe, researchers hope to identify patterns that could help prevent the disease in the future.