Austrian scientist finds link between gene mutation, eye cancer

People with mutation in the so-called BAP 1 gene have a higher risk of developing uveal melanoma, a type of cancer of the eye involving the iris, according to a research by Austrian scientists. The finding was published last weekend in the journal "Nature Genetics," the Medical University said on Tuesday. Early detection of malignant melanoma is the key to a successful medical treatment of patients. While it has been long known that external risk factors such as UV light played a role in the development of melanoma, the impact of genetic and hereditary factors were discovered firstly in the recent years, said Thomas Wiesner from the Medical University of Graz. Wiesner and an interdisciplinary research team were able to determine that a change in the BAP 1 gene is the cause for the new hereditary melanocytic tumor syndrome that is characterized by specific skin lesions. They also found that patients with the change in BAP 1 had an increased risk of developing uveal melanoma in the eye. With their newest findings, risk-patients can be detected easily through relatively simple tests to determine whether there is a mutation of the BAP 1 gene. If a change is detected, medical check-up can be then conducted to prevent further deterioration.