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EGF Gene Polymorphism and the Risk of Incident Primary Melanoma

Departments of ¹ Internal Medicine, ² Epidemiology, ³ Dermatology, ⁴ Radiation Oncology, and ⁵ Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; ⁶ Division of Epidemiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and ⁷ Department of Dermatology, Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathway has been implicated in melanoma pathogenesis, and a recent case-control study identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (G to A) in the EGF gene where the G allele was associated with increased EGF expression and an increased risk of melanoma. To further evaluate this association, we conducted a case-control analysis from the Genes, Environment, and Melanoma study at the University of Michigan site using two different study designs. Incident cases of histopathologically confirmed first primary melanoma that were diagnosed between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2000 from the University of Michigan Melanoma Clinic (n = 330) were compared with the following two different sources of nonmelanoma controls: spouse/friend controls (n = 84) and healthy volunteer controls from a case-control study of psoriasis (n = 148). Using a second analytic design, comparisons between multiple primary melanoma cases (n = 62) and single primary melanoma cases (n = 330) were also evaluated to estimate odds ratios (ORs). Genotyping for the single nucleotide substitution (G to A) at position 61 in the 5' untranslated region of the EGF gene was performed from genomic DNA, and epidemiological risk factors were assessed through a telephone interview. When EGF genotypes were compared between incident primary melanoma cases and the nonmelanoma controls, the risk associated with the homozygous G/G genotype was not statistically significantly associated with an increased risk for incident primary melanoma compared with the homozygous A/A genotype [OR, 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI); 0.65–1.85]. No strong associations with EGF G/G genotype were observed in comparisons of multiple primary and single primary melanoma cases (OR, 0.66; 95% CI; 0.25–1.73). Case subjects with tumors 3.5 mm compared with those <3.5 mm were not significantly associated with the G/G genotype (OR, 0.54; 95% CI; 0.12–2.35). Our data do not support a significant association between melanoma and the EGF 61*G allele or the homozygous G/G genotype. The EGF polymorphism is not a reproducible risk factor for melanoma or thick melanoma in our data. The two analytic approaches used in the study provide evidence against a strong association between EGF 61*G and melanoma and demonstrate the potential utility of case-case designs for evaluating the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms and cancer. Additional independent studies will be required to elucidate relationships between genetic variation in the EGF gene and risk of melanoma.

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