title: Phaeomelanin versus eumelanin as a chemical indicator of ultraviolet sensitivity in fair-skinned subjects at high risk for melanoma: a pilot study.
abstract: It is now generally agreed that solar exposure is a major external factor in the causation of cutaneous melanoma in light skinned populations with red hair and a marked susceptibility to the acute effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In the present study, we investigated the existence of a possible relationship between hair melanin composition and minimal erythema dose (MED), as an indicator of UV sensitivity, in a group of 15 healthy red-haired subjects aged 20-46 years. In spite of comparable skin and hair colour, marked variations were observed in the MED values as well as in the hair melanin composition. Phaeomelanin levels varied in the range 0.026-0.53% w/w and were generally comparable to or higher than eumelanin levels (0.042-0.17% w/w). No significant relationship was found between MED values and phaeomelanin, eumelanin or total melanin (eumelanin plus phaeomelanin) content. Notably, however, a gross positive correlation was found between the eumelanin/phaeomelanin ratio and the MED values. These results would suggest that a high UV sensitivity is associated with high phaeomelanin and low eumelanin levels, and point to the eumelanin/phaeomelanin ratio as a novel chemical parameter that could be used for predicting individuals at high risk for skin cancer and melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic and Biological Chemistry, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vincensi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: d'Ischia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Procaccini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riccio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monfrecola
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santoianni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prota
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006200:Hair Color; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008543:Melanins; C016042:phaeomelanin; C041877:eumelanin