Ancestry and somatic profile indicate acral melanoma origin and prognosis

Largest study of rare skin cancer in Mexican patients shows that it is more complex than previously thought

Genetic ancestry may play a key role in how acral melanoma, a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer, develops and behaves, with important implications for diagnosis and treatment, according to researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and their collaborators.

Ancestry and somatic profile indicate acral melanoma origin and prognosis

Acral melanoma, which is not ultraviolet-associated, is the type of melanoma reported most commonly in several non-European-descent populations1–3, including in Mexican people4. Latin American samples are substantially under-represented in global cancer genomics studies5, which directly affects patients in these regions as it is known that cancer risk and incidence may be influenced by ancestry and environmental exposures6–8. To address this, we…

Groundbreaking Study Reveals Greater Complexity of Rare Skin Cancer in

Acral melanoma—a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer—has long puzzled researchers due to its unique biological characteristics and its uneven incidence among different populations. Unlike the more common UV-driven melanoma, which primarily results from sun exposure, acral melanoma originates in areas typically shielded from ultraviolet radiation, such as the palms, soles, and nail beds. This distinction has profound implications on both its dev…