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The risk for cutaneous malignant melanoma, melanoma in situ and intraocular malignant melanoma in relation to tobacco use and body mass index

Odenbro, Å LU orcid ; Gillgren, P ; Bellocco, R ; Boffetta, P ; Håkansson, N and Adami, J (2007) In The British journal of dermatology 156(1). p.99-105
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) and melanoma in situ (MIS) has been increasing during the last 50 years. Malignant melanoma (MM) is also the most common intraocular malignancy (IMM). Besides ultraviolet radiation, the cause of these tumours is largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES: We designed a study to examine the effect of body mass index (BMI) and tobacco use on the risk for MM and MIS.

METHODS: Analyses were performed on a nationwide cohort of 339 802 Swedish construction workers. Exposure information was collected prospectively by questionnaires combined with personal interviews.

RESULTS: Follow up yielded a total of 7 663 400 person-years during which 1639 workers developed MM/MIS. The risk... (More)

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) and melanoma in situ (MIS) has been increasing during the last 50 years. Malignant melanoma (MM) is also the most common intraocular malignancy (IMM). Besides ultraviolet radiation, the cause of these tumours is largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES: We designed a study to examine the effect of body mass index (BMI) and tobacco use on the risk for MM and MIS.

METHODS: Analyses were performed on a nationwide cohort of 339 802 Swedish construction workers. Exposure information was collected prospectively by questionnaires combined with personal interviews.

RESULTS: Follow up yielded a total of 7 663 400 person-years during which 1639 workers developed MM/MIS. The risk for MM/MIS was reduced in current or previous smokers compared with those who had never smoked, both when analysing all smoking tobacco products combined and when analysing cigarette and pipe smokers separately. The risk was further diminished with longer duration of smoking and greater quantity of tobacco smoked. The effect was more evident in CMM/MIS than in IMM. Snuff taking conferred a decreased risk for CMM/MIS, and a BMI over normal weight range conferred an increased risk for CMM.

CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco smoking was found to be inversely associated with the risk for CMM and MIS. The mechanism of action is unknown but it has been suggested to be due to the immune suppressive effect that tobacco exerts which would be protective against deleterious immune reactions caused by, for example, the sun. Neither is the mechanism behind the higher risk for CMM due to being overweight known. One hypothesis is that it is an effect of a hormonal imbalance. Further studies are required to elucidate these mechanisms.

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author
; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Mass Index, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Eye Neoplasms/etiology, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Melanoma/etiology, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Skin Neoplasms/etiology, Smoking/adverse effects, Sweden/epidemiology
in
The British journal of dermatology
volume
156
issue
1
pages
99 - 105
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:33845587246
  • pmid:17199574
ISSN
0007-0963
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07537.x
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
8ece7e17-eaf0-4981-9e86-3ecac720e314
date added to LUP
2020-11-16 10:08:10
date last changed
2024-04-03 16:30:26
@article{8ece7e17-eaf0-4981-9e86-3ecac720e314,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) and melanoma in situ (MIS) has been increasing during the last 50 years. Malignant melanoma (MM) is also the most common intraocular malignancy (IMM). Besides ultraviolet radiation, the cause of these tumours is largely unknown.</p><p>OBJECTIVES: We designed a study to examine the effect of body mass index (BMI) and tobacco use on the risk for MM and MIS.</p><p>METHODS: Analyses were performed on a nationwide cohort of 339 802 Swedish construction workers. Exposure information was collected prospectively by questionnaires combined with personal interviews.</p><p>RESULTS: Follow up yielded a total of 7 663 400 person-years during which 1639 workers developed MM/MIS. The risk for MM/MIS was reduced in current or previous smokers compared with those who had never smoked, both when analysing all smoking tobacco products combined and when analysing cigarette and pipe smokers separately. The risk was further diminished with longer duration of smoking and greater quantity of tobacco smoked. The effect was more evident in CMM/MIS than in IMM. Snuff taking conferred a decreased risk for CMM/MIS, and a BMI over normal weight range conferred an increased risk for CMM.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco smoking was found to be inversely associated with the risk for CMM and MIS. The mechanism of action is unknown but it has been suggested to be due to the immune suppressive effect that tobacco exerts which would be protective against deleterious immune reactions caused by, for example, the sun. Neither is the mechanism behind the higher risk for CMM due to being overweight known. One hypothesis is that it is an effect of a hormonal imbalance. Further studies are required to elucidate these mechanisms.</p>}},
  author       = {{Odenbro, Å and Gillgren, P and Bellocco, R and Boffetta, P and Håkansson, N and Adami, J}},
  issn         = {{0007-0963}},
  keywords     = {{Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body Mass Index; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Eye Neoplasms/etiology; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Melanoma/etiology; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Skin Neoplasms/etiology; Smoking/adverse effects; Sweden/epidemiology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{99--105}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{The British journal of dermatology}},
  title        = {{The risk for cutaneous malignant melanoma, melanoma in situ and intraocular malignant melanoma in relation to tobacco use and body mass index}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07537.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07537.x}},
  volume       = {{156}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}