Annals of Oncology Advance Access originally published online on October 8, 2007
Annals of Oncology 2008 19(2):384-389; doi:10.1093/annonc/mdm464
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epidemiology |
Melanoma risk in association with serum leptin levels and lifestyle parameters: a case–control study
1 First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens
2 Department of Dermatology, Aristotle School of Medicine, Thessaloniki
3 Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Athens University Medical School, Athens
4 Department of Dermatology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens
5 First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School , Athens, Greece
6 Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
* Correspondence to: Prof. E. T. Petridou, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens, School of Medicine, 75 Mikras Asias Str, Goudi, Athens 115 27, Greece. Tel: +30-210-746-2187; Fax: +30-210-746-2105; E-mail: epetrid{at}med.uoa.gr
Background: Solar radiation has been identified as a principal factor for the causation of melanoma, whereas changing lifestyle patterns associated with obesity and diabetes might also contribute to the increasing incidence of the malignancy. No study has investigated the role of leptin, a hormone whose levels increase in obesity and which has also been related to cancer.
Patients and methods: Fifty-five patients with incident melanomas and 165 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were interviewed on the basis of a questionnaire that covers phenotypic features, sociodemographic and medical history variables, lifestyle habits and frequency of consumption of major food groups. Anthropometrical measures were also recorded and blood samples were obtained for determination of serum leptin levels. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for melanoma risk were derived through multiple logistic regression analyses.
Results: An excess melanoma risk was observed for sun sensitive individuals and those with high circulating levels of leptin (OR: 1.56, 95% confidence interval 1.07–2.28, P = 0.02), after controlling for obesity indices, diabetes mellitus and education. Increased physical exercise, lower alcohol consumption and plant food consumption seem to play a protective role against melanoma development.
Conclusions: Melanoma risk was found to be positively associated with serum leptin levels and inversely with healthy lifestyle factors. The findings need to be confirmed in prospective studies.
Key words: alcohol, diet, exercise, leptin, melanoma
Received for publication May 17, 2007. Revision received August 2, 2007. Accepted for publication August 25, 2007.