The relationship between UV exposure and incidence of skin cancer. Issue 1 (13th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moan, Johan; Grigalavicius, Mantas; Baturaite, Zivile; Dahlback, Arne; Juzeniene, Asta
• Is Part Of: Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine. Volume 31:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 35
• Publication Date: 2014-10-13
• Subjects: Photosensitivity disorders -- Periodicals; Dermatology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/phpp.12139
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-4383

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="phpp12139-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The incidence rates of skin cancer increase with decreasing latitude in most western countries. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a main risk factor for skin cancer.</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12139-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We have studied the relationship between UV exposure and skin cancer incidence rates of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and cutaneous melanoma (CM), and tried to fit different mathematical models to the experimental data.</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12139-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The incidence–UV exposure relationship for all three cancers is best described by the power law: ln(RTD) = A<sub>b</sub>·ln(annual UV<sub>Ery</sub> dose), with relative tumor density (RTD) being age‐adjusted incidence rate per unit area of skin, and the power parameter A<sub>b</sub> being the biological amplification factor. For SCC, the RTD is a factor of 16–19 times larger on the head than on the trunk. For BCC, this factor is 7 and for CM it is 0.9–1.3. A<sub>b</sub> for CM has remained almost unchanged from the 1960s until recently.</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12139-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The incidence–sun exposure relationship for all three cancers is well described by the power law. SCC is dependent on total UV exposures, while BCC, and even more CM, is dependent also on exposure patterns, with intermittent exposures being most carcinogenic.</p> </sec> </abstract>