Márquez-Rodas, IvánMartín González, ManuelNagore, EduardoGómez-Fernández, CristinaAvilés-Izquierdo, Jose AntonioMaldonado-Seral, CayetanaSoriano, VirtudesMajem-Tarruella, MargaritaPalomar, VirginiaMaseda, RocioMartín-Carnicero, AlfonsoPuertolas, TeresaGodoy, ElenaCerezuela, PabloOchoa de Olza, MariaCampos, BegoñaPerez-Ruiz, ElisabethSoria, AinaraGil-Arnaiz, IreneGonzalez-Cao, MariaGalvez, ElisaArance, AnaBelon, JoaquinCruz-Merino, Luis de laMartín-Algarra, Salvador2015-08-112015-08-112015-04-13Márquez-Rodas I, Martín González M, Nagore E, Gómez-Fernández C, Avilés-Izquierdo JA, Maldonado-Seral C, et al. Frequency and characteristics of familial melanoma in Spain: the FAM-GEM-1 Study. PLoS ONE. 2015; 10(4):e0124239http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1964Journal Article;INTRODUCTION Familial history of melanoma is a well-known risk factor for the disease, and 7% melanoma patients were reported to have a family history of melanoma. Data relating to the frequency and clinical and pathological characteristics of both familial and non-familial melanoma in Spain have been published, but these only include patients from specific areas of Spain and do not represent the data for the whole of Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS An observational study conducted by the Spanish Group of Melanoma (GEM) analyzed the family history of patients diagnosed with melanoma between 2011 and 2013 in the dermatology and oncology departments. RESULTS In all, 1047 patients were analyzed, and 69 (6.6%) fulfilled criteria for classical familial melanoma (two or more first-degree relatives diagnosed with melanoma). Taking into account other risk factors for familial melanoma, such as multiple melanoma, pancreatic cancer in the family or second-degree relatives with melanoma, the number of patients fulfilling the criteria increased to 165 (15.8%). Using a univariate analysis, we determined that a Breslow index of less than 1 mm, negative mitosis, multiple melanoma, and a history of sunburns in childhood were more frequent in familial melanoma patients, but a multivariate analysis revealed no differences in any pathological or clinical factor between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Similar to that observed in other countries, familial melanoma accounts for 6.6% of melanoma diagnoses in Spain. Although no differences in the multivariate analysis were found, some better prognosis factors, such as Breslow index, seem more frequent in familial melanoma, which reflect a better early detection marker and/or a different biological behavior.enMelanomaRisk factorFamily historyMultiple melanomaAmilial melanoma patientsDermatologíaMitosisNeoplasias PancreáticasPronósticoFactores de RiesgoQuemadura SolarMedical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Health Occupations::Medicine::DermatologyMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Population Groups::Ethnic Groups::Hispanic AmericansMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Neoplasms::Neoplasms by Histologic Type::Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal::Neuroectodermal Tumors::Neuroendocrine Tumors::MelanomaMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Cell Physiological Phenomena::Cell Physiological Processes::Cell Cycle::Cell Division::Cell Nucleus Division::MitosisMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Statistics as Topic::Analysis of Variance::Multivariate AnalysisMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Neoplasms::Neoplasms by Site::Digestive System Neoplasms::Pancreatic NeoplasmsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Diagnosis::PrognosisMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Statistics as Topic::Probability::Risk::Risk FactorsMedical Subject Headings::Geographicals::Geographic Locations::Europe::SpainMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases::Skin Diseases::Photosensitivity Disorders::Sunburnresearch article25874698open access10.1371/journal.pone.01242391932-6203PMC4395344