title: Mitochondrial DNA copy number in peripheral blood and melanoma risk.
abstract: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in peripheral blood has been suggested as risk modifier in various types of cancer. However, its influence on melanoma risk is unclear. We evaluated the association between mtDNA copy number in peripheral blood and melanoma risk in 500 melanoma cases and 500 healthy controls from an ongoing melanoma study. The mtDNA copy number was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Overall, mean mtDNA copy number was significantly higher in cases than in controls (1.15 vs 0.99, P<0.001). Increased mtDNA copy number was associated with a 1.45-fold increased risk of melanoma (95% confidence interval: 1.12-1.97). Significant joint effects between mtDNA copy number and variables related to pigmentation and history of sunlight exposure were observed. This study supports an association between increased mtDNA copy number and melanoma risk that is independent on the known melanoma risk factors (pigmentation and history of sunlight exposure).
authors.affiliation: Departments of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America.
authors.forename: Vancheswaran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeffrey E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America.
authors.forename: Shenying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations / Q000235:genetics*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010858:Pigmentation; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013472:Sunlight
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004247:DNA