Does polygenic risk influence associations between sun exposure and melanoma? A prospective cohort analysis

Source: MDLinx, February 2020

n a large population-based prospective study of men and women living in a setting of high ambient ultraviolet radiation, researchers explored the connection between ambient and personal ultraviolet exposure and incident melanoma, as well as analyzed potential gene-environment interactions. For this investigation, they obtained data from the QSkin Sun and Health Study, a prospective cohort study of men and women between the ages of 40 and 69, randomly sampled in 2011 from the Queensland population. For ultraviolet exposure, candidates were genotyped and evaluated. Of the participants with genetic data (n = 15,373), 420 developed cutaneous melanoma (173 invasive, 247 in situ) over a 4·4-year median follow-up period. Country of birth, age at migration, having > 50 sunburns in childhood or adolescence, and history of keratinocyte cancer or actinic lesions have been significantly linked to melanoma risk. Evidence for gene-environment interactions were found that were consistent with divergent pathways for melanoma development. In this context, the results can help identify and warn people at high risk of melanoma who are most likely to benefit from sun-protective behaviors.