Inherited gene mutations
Inherited genes are less often caused of melanomas. In these cases, people inherit mutations in their DNA from a parent that clearly increase their risk of melanoma. Such gene changes are called familial melanomas.
Unlike mutations secondary to the environmental changes, familial mutations usually occur in tumor suppressor genes. The most common ones include CDK4 or CDKN2A (also known as p16) that prevent them from accomplishing their normal job of controlling cell growth and eventually lead to cancerous changes.
Familial mutation can occur in the other genes too, such as XP (ERCC) genes – which normally help to repair damaged DNA inside the cell. Xeroderma pigmentosum inherits a mutation in one of the XP genes and can lead to skin cells that find it hard to repair a damaged DNA by UV rays and other environmental factors.