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UV radiation exposure, skin type and lymphoid malignancies: results of a French case–control study

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Abstract

Objectives

Investigating the relationship between skin type, UV exposure, and lymphoid malignancies (LM).

Methods

We conducted a hospital-based case–control study in France, including 813 incident cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), lymphoproliferative syndrome (LPS) or multiple myeloma and 748 controls.

Results

Positive associations between HL and blond/red hair (OR = 1.8 [0.8–3.8]), very fair/fair skin (OR = 1.6 [1.0–2.5]) were observed. High propensity to burn was associated with HL (OR = 1.5 [1.0–2.2]) and LPS (OR = 1.4 [1.0–2.1]). Poor ability to tan was significantly associated with HL (OR = 1.7 [1.0–2.8]). Having light hair with high propensity to burn was associated with NHL (OR = 1.5 [0.9–2.5]) and significantly with HL (OR = 3.4 [1.4–8.4]). Having dark hair with high propensity to burn was significantly associated with LPS (OR = 1.5 [1.0–2.2]). The associations with HL and NHL were significant for men only, with significant interactions. Outdoors activities since leaving school or in the last decade were not related to LM. Only an almost negative trend was observed. Prior exposure to artificial UV was not associated with LM.

Conclusion

These results suggest a positive association between the most reactive and palest skin types and NHL or HL in men and do not rule out a slight negative relationship between UV exposure and LM.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Association pour la Recherche contre le Cancer, the Fondation de France, AFSSET, and a donation from Faberge employees. The authors are grateful to Sandra Leguyader-Peyrou, Marie-Astrid Caillet, Satya Garnier-Haoussine, Virginie Duchenet, Véronique Chaigneau, Anne-Laure Demarty, Dominique Gillet, and Magali Viaud, who contributed to the interviews, and to Martine Valdes, Christine Henry, Nathalie Jourdan-Da Silva, and Dominique Ridondelli for technical assistance. The authors would also like to express their gratitude to the heads of department who helped them include patients as controls: Professors Vital, Durandeau and Le Guillou in Bordeaux, Lefevre and Le Goff in Brest, Vielpeau and Marcelli in Caen, Migaux, Duquesnois and Mazeman in Lille, Passuti and Maugars in Nantes, and Mansat and Fournier in Toulouse, and to Isabelle Soubeyran, who helped with the revision of the diagnoses, and the staff of the Hematological Malignancies Registry of Gironde, who helped with the classification and coding. We are grateful to Andrew Mullarky for his skilful revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM, U754, 16 av. Paul Vaillant-Couturier, Villejuif, 94807, France

    L. Grandin, L. Orsi, A. Monnereau, D. Hemon & J. Clavel

  2. Paris-Sud University, UMR-S754, IFR69, Villejuif, 94800, France

    L. Grandin, L. Orsi, A. Monnereau, D. Hemon & J. Clavel

  3. Côte de Nacre Hospital, Caen, France

    X. Troussard & M. Leporrier

  4. Bergonié Institute, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bordeaux, France

    A. Monnereau & P. Soubeyran

  5. Morvan Hospital, Brest, France

    C. Berthou

  6. Avicenne Hospital, Bobigny, France

    P. Fenaux

  7. Haut-Lévêque Hospital, CHU Bordeaux, Pessac, France

    G. Marit

  8. Purpan Hospital, Toulouse, France

    F. Huguet

  9. Hôtel Dieu Hospital, Nantes, France

    N. Milpied

Authors
  1. L. Grandin
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  2. L. Orsi
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  3. X. Troussard
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  4. A. Monnereau
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  5. C. Berthou
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  6. P. Fenaux
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  7. G. Marit
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  8. P. Soubeyran
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  9. F. Huguet
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  10. N. Milpied
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  11. M. Leporrier
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  12. D. Hemon
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  13. J. Clavel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Clavel.

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Grandin, L., Orsi, L., Troussard, X. et al. UV radiation exposure, skin type and lymphoid malignancies: results of a French case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 19, 305–315 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9093-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9093-6

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