title: Melanoma Epidemiology and Prevention.
abstract: The epidemiology of melanoma is complex, and individual risk depends on sun exposure, host factors, and genetic factors, and in their interactions as well. Sun exposure can be classified as intermittent, chronic, or cumulative (overall) exposure, and each appears to have a different effect on type of melanoma. Other environmental factors, such as chemical exposures-either through occupation, atmosphere, or food-may increase risk for melanoma, and this area warrants further study. Host factors that are well known to be important are the numbers and types of nevi and the skin phenotype. Genetic factors are classified as high-penetrant genes, moderate-risk genes, or low-risk genetic polymorphisms. Subtypes of tumors, such as BRAF-mutated tumors, have different risk factors as well as different therapies. Prevention of melanoma has been attempted using various strategies in specific subpopulations, but to date optimal interventions to reduce incidence have not emerged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC10-5550, Albuquerque, NM, 87131-0001, USA. mberwick@salud.unm.edu.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berwick
authors.affiliation: Klein Buendel, Inc., 1667 Cole Boulevard, Suite 225, Golden, CO, 80401, USA. dbuller@kleinbuendel.com.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Buller
authors.affiliation: Sydney School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Level 6, 119-143 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. Anne.Cust@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cust
authors.affiliation: Cancer Control Research Program, BC Cancer Agency, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada. rgallagher@bccrc.ca.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Cancer Control Research Program, BC Cancer Agency, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada. tlee@bccrc.ca.
authors.forename: Tim K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Public Health and Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, USA. flmeyske@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meyskens
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA. shaily.pandey@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shaily
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina, 413 Mary Ellen Jones Bldg. CB#7287, Chapel Hill, NC, 275992, USA. Nancy_Thomas@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 1122 Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway. m.b.veierod@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: Marit B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Veierød
authors.affiliation: Centre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease (GOHaD), The University of Western Australia, M409, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia. Sarah.ward@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009154:Mutation; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Epidemiology; Genetic factors; Host characteristics; Prevention; Risk factors