Estimating the attributable fraction for melanoma: A meta-analysis of pigmentary characteristics and freckling
Open accessAbstract
Epidemiologic research has demonstrated convincingly that certain pigmentary characteristics are associated with increased relative risks of melanoma; however there has been no comprehensive review to rank these characteristics in order of their importance on a population level. We conducted a systematic review of the literature and meta‐analysis to quantify the contribution of pigmentary characteristics to melanoma, estimated by the population‐attributable fraction (PAF). Eligible studies were those that permitted quantitative assessment of the association between histologically confirmed melanoma and hair colour, eye colour, skin phototype and presence of freckling; we identified 66 such studies using citation databases, followed by manual review of retrieved references. We calculated summary relative risks using weighted averages of the log RR, taking into account random effects, and used these to estimate the PAF. The pooled RRs for pigmentary characteristics were: 2.64 for red/red‐blond, 2.0 for blond and 1.46 for light brown hair colour (vs. dark); 1.57 for blue/blue‐grey and 1.51 for green/grey/hazel eye colour (vs. dark); 2.27, 1.99 and 1.35 for skin phototypes I, II and III respectively (vs. IV); and 1.99 for presence of freckling. The highest PAFs were observed for skin phototypes 1/II (0.27), presence of freckling (0.23), and blond hair colour (0.23). For eye colour, the PAF for blue/blue‐grey eye colour was higher than for green/grey/hazel eye colour (0.18 vs. 0.13). The PAF of melanoma associated with red hair colour was 0.10. These estimates of melanoma burden attributable to pigmentary characteristics provide a basis for designing prevention strategies for melanoma.
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Pheomelanin has been implicated as a major culprit in the enhanced susceptibility to UV-damage, melanoma and skin cancer of red-haired, fair-skinned individuals, due to its photosensitizing properties leading to production of high levels of reactive oxygen species.
“Conversely, pheomelanin has been implicated as a major culprit in the enhanced susceptibility to UV-damage, melanoma and skin cancer of red-haired, fair-skinned individuals [6], due to its photosensitizing properties, leading to the production of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [7].”
From “Fifty Shades” of Black and Red or How Carboxyl Groups Fine Tune Eumelanin and Pheomelanin Properties (2016) · cites this paper as [6]
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References 100 · Cited by 89
Research works printed but not linked: 6
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- Chen YT, Dubrow R, Holford TR, Zheng T, Barnhill RL, Fine J, Berwick M. Malignant melanoma risk factors by anatomic site: a case-control study and polychotomous logistic regression analysis. Int J Cancer 1996;67:636-43.
- Naldi L, Lorenzo Imberti G, Parazzini F, Gallus S, La Vecchia C. Pigmentary traits, modalities of sun reaction, history of sunburns, and melanocytic nevi as risk factors for cutaneous malignant melanoma in the Italian population: results of a collaborative case-control study. Cancer 2000;88:2703-10.
- Grulich AE, Bataille V, Swerdlow AJ, Newton-Bishop JA, Cuzick J, Hersey P, McCarthy WH. Naevi and pigmentary characteristics as risk factors for melanoma in a high-risk population: a case-control study in New South Wales, Australia. Int J Cancer 1996;67:485-91.
- V C 2010 UICC 10970215, 2010, 10, · DOI
- Authors
- Olsen, C. M., Carroll, H. J., & Whiteman, D. C.
- Affiliations
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Olsen, Catherine M.
- Venue
- International Journal of Cancer
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-02-08
- Volume
- 127
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 2430-2445
- ISSN
- 0020-7136 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0215
- OpenAlex
- W2066179353
- Cited by
- 89
- References
- 100
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Cancer (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Australian Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Melanoma and MAPK Pathways
- Keywords
- melanoma, population attributable fraction, hair color, eye color, Fitzpatrick skin type, freckling, risk factors, melanoma prevention
- MeSH terms
- Eye Color, Hair Color, Humans, Melanoma, Melanosis, Pigmentation, Case-Control Studies
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