Residents in Manly and Lota are living in one of Queensland’s higher-risk areas for melanoma, with local diagnosis rates sitting 81 per cent above the Australian average, according to Australian Cancer Atlas data. The findings come as Brisbane researchers have completed the world’s largest genetic study of moles and melanoma, identifying dozens of previously unknown genetic regions that may help explain why some people are more likely to develop the disease.
Scientists from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Herston analysed genetic information from 85,965 people and discovered 24 new genetic regions linked to mole development. The study, published in Nature Communications, is expected to improve understanding of melanoma and may help shape future screening and treatment strategies.
Melanoma Rates Have Remained High Across Manly and Lota
Australian Cancer Atlas data shows invasive melanoma diagnosis rates in the Manly-Lota area are significantly higher than the national average.
The Atlas classifies the difference as likely to be a genuine variation rather than a statistical anomaly. Historical data also shows the area’s melanoma rate has remained consistently elevated for more than two decades, tracking well above the Australian average between 1996 and 2019.
The Atlas also found overall cancer diagnoses in Manly-Lota were 19 per cent above the national average.
While the Atlas does not identify specific causes for the higher melanoma rate, researchers have long recognised that melanoma risk is shaped by a combination of environmental exposure and inherited genetic factors.
Study Focuses on the Link Between Moles and Melanoma
The new study examined the genetics behind what researchers call nevus count, more commonly known as the number of moles a person develops.
Lead author Shanika Jayasinghe and senior author Associate Professor Matthew Law from QIMR Berghofer said understanding mole development is important because moles and melanomas begin in the same type of pigment-producing skin cell known as a melanocyte.
A mole forms when melanocytes multiply and then stop growing. Melanoma occurs when those cells continue growing and become cancerous.
Researchers identified 29 genetic regions associated with mole count, including 24 that had not previously been identified in studies focused solely on moles. More than 250 genes were also flagged for further investigation.
New Genetic Regions Offer Fresh Paths for Research
One of the newly identified genes, known as SIKE1, is involved in regulating immune responses.
Researchers believe the gene may influence the body’s ability to detect and control abnormal melanocyte growth. Further studies will be needed to determine whether this pathway could eventually become a target for future melanoma treatments.
The research also found links to biological pathways associated with several other cancers, including breast, prostate and brain cancers. Scientists say this suggests melanoma may share some underlying mechanisms with diseases that are not traditionally linked to skin pigmentation.
Future Screening Could Include Genetic Risk Scores
The team used the study findings to develop a Polygenic Risk Score designed to estimate a person’s inherited tendency to develop large numbers of moles.
While still in the research stage, the approach could eventually help doctors identify people who face a greater risk of melanoma and may benefit from closer monitoring.
The study also reinforced previous evidence that people with high mole counts face a greater likelihood of developing melanoma. Researchers found strong genetic overlap between the factors that influence mole numbers and those linked to melanoma risk.
Early Detection Remains Critical
Despite significant advances in treatment over the past decade, melanoma remains Australia’s deadliest form of skin cancer and claims around 1,400 lives nationally each year.
Researchers stress that genetic discoveries are not a substitute for established prevention measures. Regular skin checks, protective clothing, sunscreen use and limiting exposure to ultraviolet radiation remain important tools for reducing melanoma risk.
For communities such as Manly and Lota, where melanoma rates remain substantially higher than the national average, the latest research may help improve future screening programs and identify those most at risk before the disease develops.
Published 17-June-2026
