Melanocytic nevi, nevus genes, and melanoma risk in a large case-control study in the United Kingdom

Increased number of melanocytic nevi is a potent melanoma risk factor. We have carried out a large population-based case-control study to explore the environmental and genetic determinants of nevi and the relationship with melanoma risk.

We report nevus phenotype in relation to differing patterns of sun exposure, inherited variation at loci shown in recent genome-wide association studies to be nevus genes, and risk.

Increased numbers of nevi were associated with holiday sun exposure, particularly on intermittently sun-exposed body sites (test for P(trend) < 0.0001). Large nevi were also associated with holiday sun exposure (P = 0.002). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) on chromosomes 9 and 22 were associated with increased numbers of nevi (P = 0.04 and P = 0.002 respectively) and larger nevi (P = 0.03 and P = 0.002), whereas that on chromosome 6 was associated only with large nevi (P = 0.01). Melanoma risk was associated with increased nevus count, large nevi, and atypical nevi for tumors in all body sites (including rare sites) irrespective of age. The risk persisted when adjusted for inheritance of nevus SNPs.

The at-risk nevus phenotype is associated with behaviors known to increase melanoma risk (holiday sun exposure). Although SNPs on chromosomes 6, 9, and 22 were shown to be nevus genes, they explained only a small proportion of melanoma risk and nevus phenotype; therefore, several nevus genes likely remain to be identified.

This article confirms the importance of nevi in melanoma pathogenesis and increases understanding of their genetic determinants.