Basal cell carcinomas on sun‐protected vs. sun‐exposed body sites: a comparison of phenotypic and environmental risk factors. Issue 4 (14th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khalesi, Mohammad; Whiteman, David C.; Rosendahl, Cliff; Johns, Richard; Hackett, Timothy; Cameron, Alan; Waterhouse, Mary; Lucas, Robyn M.; Kimlin, Michael G.; Neale, Rachel E.; the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Sun and Health
• Is Part Of: Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine. Volume 31:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 202
• Page End: 211
• Publication Date: 2015-04-14
• Subjects: Photosensitivity disorders -- Periodicals; Dermatology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/phpp.12170
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-4383

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="phpp12170-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="phpp12170-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in White populations. There are indications that risk factors for BCC may differ according to the anatomic site of the tumour but this is not well understood.</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12170-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>To compare phenotypic and environmental risk factors for BCCs arising on sun‐protected sites with that of those on sun‐exposed sites.</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12170-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We conducted a case–case study in which people who had been diagnosed with incident BCC were recruited between February 2012 and September 2013 in Brisbane, Australia.</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12170-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Fair skin (OR: 4.50; 95% CI: 1.22, 16.59), having more than 15 lesions frozen/burnt off compared to less than 5 (OR: 5.68; 95% CI: 1.78, 18.08) and severe acne (OR: 5.25; 95% CI: 1.34, 20.56) were associated with increased risk of BCC on sun‐protected sites. The presence of more than 5 nevi on the body was associated with decreased risk (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.71).</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12170-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>BCCs on sun‐protected sites arise as a result of excessive sun exposure, most likely combined with phenotypic susceptibility. The strong negative association with nevi also suggests that there are constitutional factors that underlie the propensity for BCCs to arise on these body sites.</p> </sec> </abstract>