Melanocytic Nevi, Solar Keratoses, and Divergent Pathways to Cutaneous Melanoma
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 4 June 2003
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute
- Vol. 95 (11) , 806-812
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/95.11.806
Abstract
Background: Some melanomas form on sun-exposed body sites, whereas others do not. We previously proposed that melanomas at different body sites arise through different pathways that have different associations with melanocytic nevi and solar keratoses. We tested this hypothesis in a case–case comparative study of melanoma patients in Queensland, Australia. Methods: We randomly selected patients from among three prespecified groups reported to the population-based Queensland Cancer Registry: those with superficial spreading or nodular melanomas of the trunk (n = 154, the reference group), those with such melanomas of the head and neck (n = 77, the main comparison group), and those with lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) (n = 75, the chronic sun-exposed group). Each participant completed a questionnaire, and a research nurse counted melanocytic nevi and solar keratoses. We calculated exposure odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to quantify the association between factors of interest and each melanoma group. Results: Patients with head and neck melanomas, compared with patients with melanomas of the trunk, were statistically significantly less likely to have more than 60 nevi (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.15 to 0.79) but were statistically significantly more likely to have more than 20 solar keratoses (OR = 3.61, 95% CI = 1.42 to 9.17) and also tended to have a past history of excised solar skin lesions (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 0.89 to 3.92). Patients with LMM were also less likely than patients with truncal melanomas to have more than 60 nevi (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.75) and tended toward more solar keratoses (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 0.88 to 5.16). Conclusions: Prevalences of nevi and solar keratoses differ markedly between patients with head and neck melanomas or LMM and patients with melanomas of the trunk. Cutaneous melanomas may arise through two pathways, one associated with melanocyte proliferation and the other with chronic exposure to sunlight.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Neonatal sunburn and melanoma in miceNature, 2001
- Childhood sun exposure as a risk factor for melanoma: a systematic review of epidemiologic studiesCancer Causes & Control, 2001
- p53 expression and risk factors for cutaneous melanoma: A case-control studyInternational Journal of Cancer, 1998
- Comparison of the site distribution of melanoma in New Zealand and CanadaInternational Journal of Cancer, 1997
- Lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanomaJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1995
- Proportional melanoma incidence and occupation among White males in Los Angeles County (California, United States)Cancer Causes & Control, 1995
- How much melanoma is caused by sun exposure?Melanoma Research, 1993
- Site distribution of cutaneous melanoma in queenslandInternational Journal of Cancer, 1993
- Melanoma and other tumors of the skin among office, other indoor and outdoor workers in Sweden 1961-1979British Journal of Cancer, 1986
- The relationship of malignant melanoma, basal and squamous skin cancers to indoor and outdoor workBritish Journal of Cancer, 1981