High risk of cutaneous melanoma amongst carriers of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 R241 allele.

We examined the relation between cutaneous melanoma risk and the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms G241R and K469E, as well as the circulating soluble form of ICAM-1 determined in plasma, in the population of Modena Province, northern Italy. Individuals carrying at least one R241 allele, versus those carrying the wild-type GG genotype, had a relative risk of melanoma of 4.3 (P = 0.022), whereas the K469E polymorphism was unrelated to disease risk. Soluble ICAM-1 levels above 10 ng/ml directly and strongly correlated with melanoma risk. In this population, individuals carrying the R241 allele of the ICAM-1 gene appeared to show an enhanced susceptibility to cutaneous melanoma, possibly because of increased ICAM-1 expression.

A population-based case-control study of diet and melanoma risk in northern Italy.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed at examining the association between dietary constituents and risk of cutaneous melanoma. DESIGN: In an area of northern Italy we recruited 59 newly diagnosed melanoma patients and 59 age- and sex-matched population controls, to whom we administered a validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: We found an excess risk of melanoma in subjects with a higher energy-adjusted intake of total polyunsaturated fatty acids and, in particular, of linoleic acid (relative risk = 2.16 for intake in the highest tertile compared with the lowest tertile, P for linear trend = 0.061). Conversely, disease risk was inversely associated with the consumption of soluble carbohydrates (relative risk = 0.34 for intake in the upper vs. the lowest tertile adjusting for total energy intake, P for linear trend = 0.046). No other dietary factors, including alcohol, vitamins and trace elements, correlated with melanoma risk. The association of melanoma risk with linoleic acid and soluble carbohydrates intakes was further strengthened in multivariate analysis, and when analysis was limited to females. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results indicate that an excess energy-adjusted intake of linoleic acid and a lower consumption of soluble carbohydrates may increase melanoma risk.

Trace elements and melanoma.

Melanoma incidence has been steadily increasing in recent years in most western countries, thus suggesting a role of environmental risk factors. Among these determinants, it has been hypothesized that some trace elements of nutritional and toxicological interest may be implicated in the etiology of the disease. We examined patients with newly diagnosed melanoma of the skin and population controls from the Modena province northern Italy. Clinical and dietary data were collected through questionnaires, and toenails were sampled for trace element determination. Levels of cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium, zinc, copper and iron in toenails were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and by neutron activation analysis. Data obtained from 58 cases and 58 controls indicated higher levels of copper and lower concentrations of iron in melanoma patients, whilst no other differences were seen for the remaining elements. Patterns of correlations of zinc and copper with the estimated intake of some dietary factors were different between cases and controls. Results of the present study suggest that abnormal intake or metabolism of copper and of iron might be implicated in the etiology of melanoma, whilst they do not indicate an involvement of exposure to cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium and zinc in this disease.

Environmental exposure to trace elements and risk of cutaneous melanoma.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to examine the risk of melanoma in association with exposure to trace elements of toxicological and nutritional interest. METHODS: We analyzed the concentrations of cadmium, lead, chromium, selenium, copper and zinc in toenails of 58 patients with newly diagnosed cutaneous melanoma as well as in 58 age- and sex-matched control subjects, randomly selected from the population of Modena province in northern Italy. RESULTS: Melanoma risk was substantially unrelated to toenail levels of cadmium, chromium, lead and selenium. Subjects with higher toenail copper levels showed an excess risk, both in the crude analysis and after adjusting for sun exposure and level of education, while in both analyses high iron concentrations were associated with a decreased risk of the disease. A weak direct association between zinc levels and melanoma risk also emerged in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results do not suggest an involvement of heavy metals in melanoma etiology, while they do give some support to a possible role of zinc and, in particular, copper and iron exposure in influencing disease risk. However, these findings must be evaluated with caution due to the limited statistical stability of the point estimates.