title: Anthropometric features and cutaneous melanoma risk: a prospective cohort study in French women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological studies on anthropometric features and cutaneous melanoma risk in women yielded inconsistent results, with few analyses involving prospective cohort data. Our objective was to explore several anthropometric characteristics in relation to the risk of melanoma in women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively analysed data from E3N, a French cohort involving 98,995 women born in 1925-1950. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires sent biennially over 1990-2008. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using Cox proportional hazards regression models, adjusted for age, number of naevi, freckling, skin and hair colour, skin sensitivity to sun exposure, residential sun exposure, and physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Height was positively associated with melanoma in age-adjusted models only (RR=1.27, 95% CI=1.05-1.55 for ≥ 164 cm vs. <160 cm; P for trend=0.02). After full adjustment, there was a significantly positive relationship between sitting-to-standing height ratio and melanoma risk (RR=1.40, 95% CI=1.06-1.86 for ≥ 0.533 vs. <0.518; P for trend=0.02). A large body shape at menarche was inversely associated with the risk of melanoma (RR=0.78, 95% CI=0.62-0.98; compared with lean). However, weight, body mass index, body surface area, waist or hip circumference, sitting height or leg length were not significantly associated with risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that height, sitting-to-standing height ratio and body shape at menarche may be associated with melanoma risk. Further research is required to confirm these relationships and better understand the underlying mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), "Nutrition, Hormones and Women's Health" Team, F-94805 Villejuif, France; Univ. Paris Sud 11, UMRS 1018, F-94807 Villejuif, France; Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Cancer Control Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kvaskoff
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), "Nutrition, Hormones and Women's Health" Team, F-94805 Villejuif, France; Univ. Paris Sud 11, UMRS 1018, F-94807 Villejuif, France; Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bijon
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), "Nutrition, Hormones and Women's Health" Team, F-94805 Villejuif, France; Univ. Paris Sud 11, UMRS 1018, F-94807 Villejuif, France; Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mesrine
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), "Nutrition, Hormones and Women's Health" Team, F-94805 Villejuif, France; Univ. Paris Sud 11, UMRS 1018, F-94807 Villejuif, France; Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vilier
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), "Nutrition, Hormones and Women's Health" Team, F-94805 Villejuif, France; Univ. Paris Sud 11, UMRS 1018, F-94807 Villejuif, France; Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clavel-Chapelon
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), "Nutrition, Hormones and Women's Health" Team, F-94805 Villejuif, France; Univ. Paris Sud 11, UMRS 1018, F-94807 Villejuif, France; Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France. Electronic address: Marie-christine.BOUTRON@gustaveroussy.fr.
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boutron-Ruault
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D049628:Body Size; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anthropometry; Cohort studies; Cutaneous melanoma; Epidemiology