title: European ancestry and polymorphisms in DNA repair genes modify the risk of melanoma: a case-control study in a high UV index region in Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  UV radiation is the major environmental factor related to development of cutaneous melanoma. Besides sun exposure and the influence of latitude, some host characteristics such as skin phototype and hair and eye color are also risk factors for melanoma. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes could be good candidates for susceptibility genes, mainly in geographical regions exposed to high solar radiation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the role of host characteristics and DNA repair polymorphism in melanoma risk in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a hospital-based case-control study in Brazil to evaluate the contribution of host factors and polymorphisms in DNA repair to melanoma risk. A total of 412 patients (202 with melanoma and 210 controls) were analyzed regarding host characteristics for melanoma risk as well as for 11 polymorphisms in DNA repair genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an association of host characteristics with melanoma development, such as eye and hair color, fair skin, history of pigmented lesions removed, sunburns in childhood and adolescence, and also European ancestry. Regarding DNA repair gene polymorphisms, we found protection for the XPG 1104 His/His genotype (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.13-0.75), and increased risk for three polymorphisms in the XPC gene (PAT+; IV-6A and 939Gln), which represent a haplotype for XPC. Melanoma risk was higher in individuals carrying the complete XPC haplotype than each individual polymorphism (OR 3.64; 95% CI 1.77-7.48).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that the host factors European ancestry and XPC polymorphisms contributed to melanoma risk in a region exposed to high sun radiation.
authors: Laboratório de Imuno-hematologia e Hematologia Forense - LIM40, Departamento de Medicina Legal, Ética Médica, Medicina Social e do Trabalho, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Fernanda T
authors: FT
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Guilherme
authors: G
authors: Francisco
authors: Sonia P
authors: SP
authors: de Souza
authors: Olinda C
authors: OC
authors: Luiz
authors: Cyro
authors: C
authors: Festa-Neto
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Sanches
authors: Roger
authors: R
authors: Chammas
authors: Gilka J F
authors: GJ
authors: Gattas
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Eluf-Neto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C086984:XPC protein, human