Associations of pigmentary and naevus phenotype with melanoma risk in two populations with comparable ancestry but contrasting levels of ambient sun exposure

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: People at high risk of developing melanoma are usually identified by pigmentary and naevus phenotypes. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether associations of these phenotypes with melanoma risk differed by ambient sun exposure or participant characteristics in two population-based, case-control studies with comparable ancestry but different ambient sun exposure. METHODS: Data were analysed from 616 cases and 496 controls from the Australian Melanoma Family Study and 2012 cases and 504 controls from the Leeds (UK) case-control study. Questionnaire, interview and dermatological skin examination data were collected using the same measurement protocols. Relative risks were estimated as odds ratios using unconditional logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Hair and skin colour were the strongest pigmentary phenotype risk factors. All associations of pigmentary phenotype with melanoma risk were similar across countries. The median number of clinically assessed naevi was approximately three times higher in Australia than Leeds, but the relative risks for melanoma associated with each additional common or dysplastic naevus were higher for Leeds than Australia, especially for naevi on the upper and lower limbs. Higher naevus counts on the head and neck were associated with a stronger relative risk for melanoma for women than men. The two countries had similar relative risks for melanoma based on self-reported naevus density categories, but personal perceptions of naevus number differed by country. There was no consistent evidence of interactions between phenotypes on risk. CONCLUSIONS: Classifying people at high risk of melanoma based on their number of naevi should ideally take into account their country of residence, type of counts (clinical or self-reported), body site on which the naevus counts are measured and sex. The presence of naevi may be a stronger indicator of a genetic predisposition in the UK than in Australia based on less opportunity for sun exposure to influence naevus development.

Source: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

DOI: 10.1111/jdv.15680

Authors: A.E. Cust, M. Drummond, D.T. Bishop, L. Azizi, H. Schmid, M.A. Jenkins, J.L. Hopper, B.K. Armstrong, J.F. Aitken, R.F. Kefford, G.G. Giles, F. Demenais, A.M. Goldstein, J.H. Barrett, P.A. Kanetsky, D.E. Elder, G.J. Mann, J.A. Newton‐Bishop

Institutions: The University of Sydney, Melanoma Institute Australia, University of Leeds, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Melbourne, Cancer Council Queensland, Macquarie University, Cancer Council Victoria, Inserm, Université Paris Diderot, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania

Language: English

Topic: Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000

Funders: Cancer Research UK, Cancer Institute NSW, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Council Victoria, Cancer Council NSW, Cancer Council Queensland, National Cancer Institute

OpenAlex ID: W2945436435