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Risk associations of melanoma in a Southern European population: results of a case/control study

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Abstract

Objectives

Limited data exist about the risk factors of melanoma in the Greek population. We investigated the association of melanoma with phenotypic and solar indices in this darker skin population residing in an environment of high ambient ultraviolet radiation.

Methods

Our study included 200 sporadic melanoma cases and 200 age-, sex-matched control subjects. Information on history of sun exposure patterns and cutaneous reaction to sunlight was obtained and a clinical evaluation of pigmentary traits, pigmented lesions, and actinic keratoses was performed.

Results

In the multivariate analysis, fair skin (OR: 4.63, for fair skin versus light brown, 95% CI: 1.54–13.92), intermittent sun exposure during childhood (OR: 3.33, >2 weeks/year of sun exposure versus ≤2 weeks/year 95% CI: 1.37–8.09), and outdoor leisure activities (OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.28–5.89), but not skin phototype or sunburns, were positively related to the risk of melanoma. In addition to an elevated count of common melanocytic nevi (OR: 6.27, ≥10 nevi versus no nevi, 95% CI: 1.65–23.76) and the presence of clinically atypical nevi (OR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.16–6.98), solar lentigenes were an independent risk factor of melanoma (OR: 4.33, 95% CI: 1.67–11.22).

Conclusions

Intermittent sun exposure of moderate intensity during childhood/adolescence and outdoor leisural activities, in conjunction with a more resistant skin phenotype to acute sunburns and a strong association with nevi and solar lentigenes was a prominent determinant of melanoma risk in our population.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Esther De Vries (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) for critically reviewing our manuscript. We also thank Dr. G. Mantzaris (Evagelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece) for his assistance in the recruitment of the control group. Funding sources: The study was partially funded by the “Kapodistrias” program of the Special Account for Research Grants of the National and Kapodestrian University of Athens (Code number: 70/4/5910) and by the Oncology Program fund, Greek Ministry of Health (No. 72K/115—30/11/2005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Athens, Andreas Sygros Hospital, 5 Dragoumi Street, Athens, 10671, Greece

    Vasiliki A. Nikolaou, Irene Stefanaki, Othon Papadopoulos, Dorothea Polydorou, Michaela Plaka, Anastasia Dimou, Eleni Mourtzoukou, Valantis Korfitis, Eftihia Hatziolou, Christina Antoniou, Andreas Katsambas & Alexander J. Stratigos

  2. Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece

    Vana Sypsa & Angelos Hatzakis

  3. Oncology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Athens, Laikon Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Helen Gogas

  4. Department of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, Gennimatas General Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Dimosthenis Tsoutsos

Authors
  1. Vasiliki A. Nikolaou
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  2. Vana Sypsa
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  3. Irene Stefanaki
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  4. Helen Gogas
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  9. Anastasia Dimou
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  11. Valantis Korfitis
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  13. Christina Antoniou
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  14. Angelos Hatzakis
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  15. Andreas Katsambas
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  16. Alexander J. Stratigos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexander J. Stratigos.

Additional information

Alexander Stratigos and Andreas Katsambas contributed equally as senior authors.

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Nikolaou, V.A., Sypsa, V., Stefanaki, I. et al. Risk associations of melanoma in a Southern European population: results of a case/control study. Cancer Causes Control 19, 671–679 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9130-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9130-0

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