Sun exposure and melanoma risk at different latitudes: a pooled analysis of 5700 cases and 7216 controls

Despite strong evidence that sun exposure causes malignant melanoma, the details of this relation remain unclear. A nested case-control analysis was conducted within the Nurses' Health Study cohort to examine the relation between timing of severe sun exposure and incidence of melanoma. The subjects were 130 white women aged 38 to 65 years with confirmed cutaneous melanoma (other than acral lentigenous) who reported no history of melanoma in first-degree relatives. The control subjects were 300 women matched by race, date of birth, and cycle of questionnaire who also reported no history of melanoma in first-degree relatives. We used conditional logistic regression to evaluate the relation of sun damage after 30 years of age and sun damage from 15 to 20 years of age to the incidence of melanoma. Blistering sunburns between 15 to 20 years of age were associated with risk of melanoma (relative risk = 2.2 for five or more burns vs none, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 3.8). This association persisted when a history of burns after 30 years of age was controlled in the analysis. No material association was found between blistering sunburns after 30 years of age and melanoma. Similarly, a more equatorial latitude of residence between 15 and 20 years of age was positively associated with melanoma; latitude after 30 years of age was less strongly and not significantly related to melanoma risk. Sun exposure prior to 20 years of age is more closely associated with melanoma risk than sun exposure after 30 years of age.

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Clinical Characteristics in Early Childhood Associated with a Nevus-Prone Phenotype in Adults from Tropical Australia: Two Decades of Follow-Up of the Townsville Preschool Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17228680 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (22) ◽

pp. 8680

Author(s):

Ramez Barsoum ◽

Simone L. Harrison

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Research ◽

Sun Exposure ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Melanoma Risk ◽

Bottom Quartile ◽

Targeted Screening ◽

History Of ◽

Tropical Australia

Having numerous melanocytic nevi increases melanoma risk. Few studies have enumerated nevi in children and re-examined them as adults. We aimed to determine if childhood nevus-counts predict nevus-prone adults, and further explore the relevance of host-factors and sun-exposure. Fifty-one Caucasian residents of Townsville (19.16° S, Queensland, Australia) had full-body nevus-counts aged 1–6 and 21–31 years-old. Sun-exposure was determined from questionnaires. Children in the upper-quartile of nevus-counts acquired nevi more rapidly than those in the bottom-quartile (13.3 versus 4.7 nevi/year; p < 0.0005). Children sunburnt before 7 years-old acquired more incident nevi by adulthood (238 versus 126, p = 0.003) particularly if sunburn was severe (321 versus 157.5, p = 0.003) or erythema occurred annually (380 versus 132, p = 0.008). Fair-skinned, freckled children with some nevi ≥ 3 mm, solar lentigines, or a family history of melanoma acquired more incident nevi than children without these attributes. Nevus-prone adults exhibit distinguishing features earlier in life (<7 years-old in Queensland) than has been shown previously. In addition to intervening with sun-protection counselling early enough to reduce risk, being able to reliably triage children into high- and low melanoma-risk groups may inform more efficacious and cost-effective targeted-screening in melanoma-prone populations. Further longitudinal research is needed to confirm that these attributes can reliably separate risk-groups.

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Melanoma Risk: Unaffected by Sun Exposure?

Biologic Effects of Light ◽

10.1515/9783110856156-050 ◽

1992 ◽

pp. 399-404

Author(s):

J. Weiss

Keyword(s):

Sun Exposure ◽

Melanoma Risk

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Biologic markers of sun exposure and melanoma risk in women: Pooled case-control analysis

International Journal of Cancer ◽

10.1002/ijc.25691 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 129 (3) ◽

pp. 713-723 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Catherine M. Olsen ◽

Michael S. Zens ◽

Adele C. Green ◽

Therese A. Stukel ◽

C. D'Arcy J. Holman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sun Exposure ◽

Case Control ◽

Control Analysis ◽

Melanoma Risk ◽

Biologic Markers ◽

Case Control Analysis

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MC1R variants as melanoma risk factors independent of at-risk phenotypic characteristics: a pooled analysis from the M-SKIP project

Cancer Management and Research ◽

10.2147/cmar.s155283 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol Volume 10 ◽

pp. 1143-1154 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Elena Tagliabue ◽

Sara Gandini ◽

Rino Bellocco ◽

Patrick Maisonneuve ◽

Julia Newton-Bishop ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

At Risk ◽

Pooled Analysis ◽

Phenotypic Characteristics ◽

Melanoma Risk

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Relationship between sun exposure and melanoma risk for tumours in different body sites in a large case-control study in a temperate climate

European Journal of Cancer ◽

10.1016/j.ejca.2010.10.008 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 47 (5) ◽

pp. 732-741 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Julia A. Newton-Bishop ◽

Yu-Mei Chang ◽

Faye Elliott ◽

May Chan ◽

Susan Leake ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Control Study ◽

Sun Exposure ◽

Case Control ◽

Temperate Climate ◽

Melanoma Risk ◽

Control Study ◽

Large Case

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Patterns of familial aggregation of three melanoma risk factors: great number of naevi, light phototype and high degree of sun exposure

International Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/ije/29.3.408 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 408-415 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

L. Briollais

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Familial Aggregation ◽

Sun Exposure ◽

Melanoma Risk ◽

High Degree

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Personal melanoma risk awareness versus intrinsic risk.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.9069 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 9069-9069

Author(s):

Caroline Robert ◽

Céleste Lebbé ◽

Sevrine Ricard ◽

Philippe Saiag ◽

Florent Grange ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Family History ◽

Sun Exposure ◽

Risk Level ◽

Control Group ◽

Melanoma Risk ◽

Protection Measures ◽

Frequent Use ◽

History Of

9069 Background: Intrinsic risk factors for melanoma include personal and family history of the condition, a high number of naevi and a light skin phototype (I or II). The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between personal awareness of melanoma risk and objective risk factors and to analyze the elements associated with under-or over-evaluation of the actual risk. Methods: EDIFICE melanoma, a nationwide French observational survey, was conducted through phone interviews on a representative sample of 1502 subjects aged ≥ 18 using typical quotas. The survey took place from 28th Sept 2011 to 20th Oct 2011. Results: 393 subjects (26%) had at least one melanoma risk factor: personal: 1%; family history: 11%; high number of naevi: 8% and phototype I-II: 11%. 1109 (74%) had no risk factor. 1029 (73%) had a correct perception of their risk level, 135 (10%) overestimated their risk and 241 (17%) underestimated it. Compared to the control group (correct perception), the population overestimating the melanoma risk is characterised by a higher percentage of individuals living alone (32% vs. 24%, p<0.05), socio-professional category + (38% vs. 28%, p<0.01) and greater alcohol consumption (45% vs. 34%, p<0.02). They are also more likely to expose themselves to the sun (89% vs. 78%, p<0.004) and less likely to use sunscreen protection (58% vs. 44%, p<0.003). A greater proportion of them participates in melanoma screening programmes (21% vs. 14%, p<0.04). The population that underestimates the risk is characterised by lower educational attainment (11% vs. 7%, p<0.05), greater use of high SPF sunscreen (41% vs. 29%, p<0.0004) and a more frequent use of UV sunbeds (9% vs. 6%, p<0.06). Conclusions: Overall, the French have a fair perception of their personal likelihood of developing melanoma. Interestingly, subjects overestimating their intrinsic risk do not behave appropriately with respect to sun protection measures (more sun exposure and less sunscreen protection). On the other hand, subjects underestimating their risk use UV sunbeds more extensively.

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