Melanoma risk in association with serum leptin levels and lifestyle parameters: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Solar radiation has been identified as a principal factor for the causation of melanoma, whereas changing lifestyle patterns associated with obesity and diabetes might also contribute to the increasing incidence of the malignancy. No study has investigated the role of leptin, a hormone whose levels increase in obesity and which has also been related to cancer.


METHODS
Fifty-five patients with incident melanomas and 165 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were interviewed on the basis of a questionnaire that covers phenotypic features, sociodemographic and medical history variables, lifestyle habits and frequency of consumption of major food groups. Anthropometrical measures were also recorded and blood samples were obtained for determination of serum leptin levels. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for melanoma risk were derived through multiple logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
An excess melanoma risk was observed for sun sensitive individuals and those with high circulating levels of leptin (OR: 1.56, 95% confidence interval 1.07-2.28, P = 0.02), after controlling for obesity indices, diabetes mellitus and education. Increased physical exercise, lower alcohol consumption and plant food consumption seem to play a protective role against melanoma development.


CONCLUSIONS
Melanoma risk was found to be positively associated with serum leptin levels and inversely with healthy lifestyle factors. The findings need to be confirmed in prospective studies.
Gogas
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Trakatelli
M
M
Dessypris
N
N
Terzidis
A
A
Katsambas
A
A
Chrousos
G P
GP
Petridou
E T
ET
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020738:Leptin