Case 7-2004: Hereditary Melanoma and Pancreatic Cancer

To the Editor: The discussants in Case 7-2004 (Feb. 26 issue) 1 comprehensively review hereditary melanoma arising from inherited CDKN2A mutations, but they fail to mention the increased risk of pancreatic cancer associated with germ-line CDKN2A mutations. 2 , 3 Although pancreatic cancer did not occur in the pedigree of the patient in this case, its absence could reflect the early death of affected family members. Carriers of germ-line CDKN2A mutations affecting the p16 protein have been estimated to have a 17 percent lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer. 4 To help prevent premature death from pancreatic cancer, persons with an increased susceptibility to this . . .