Genetic testing for melanoma in kids

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Most parents at higher risk of melanoma favor genetic testing of their children, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City said their study on testing for melanoma -- the most serious form of skin cancer -- may help lead to formal, evidence-based guidelines for genetic testing of people under age 18.

"Developing guidelines for genetic testing of minors is complex and controversial, but the knowledge of their genetic status could help them make appropriate lifestyle decisions." study leader Dr. Sancy Leachman said in a statement. "For example, a child who tested positive might decide not to choose a summer job that demands lots of sun exposure, such as lifeguard."

The two-year study, published in the journal Genetics in Medicine, indicated 86.9 percent of the parents supported testing of minors. Most parents said they favored the testing because they believed knowing the risk would promote risk-reducing behavior. This attitude remained stable over the two-year study period.

Leachman and colleagues surveyed 61 adults who know they have the CDKN2A/p16 mutation, increasing their melanoma risk.