Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026
12:37
Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
17.8K
Sun exposure and melanoma survival: a GEM study
Marianne Berwick1, Anne S Reiner2, Susan Paine3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Preventive Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. mberwick@salud.unm.edu.
Summary
Sun exposure before melanoma diagnosis shows little effect on survival. While sunburns within 10 years appeared protective, overall sun exposure had minimal impact on melanoma survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Previous studies suggested a link between UV radiation exposure and melanoma survival.
- This research aimed to validate this association in a larger, international cohort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between pre-diagnosis sun exposure and melanoma survival.
- To evaluate various measures of sun exposure, including sunburns and cumulative exposure.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter, international population-based study of 3,578 melanoma cases.
- Data collected on sunburns, intermittent sun exposure, holiday and water-related activities, ambient UVB dose, and solar elastosis.
Main Results:
- Sunburns within 10 years of diagnosis showed an inverse association with survival.
- Lifetime cumulative exposure (solar elastosis) and intermittent exposure measures were not associated with survival.
- Ambient UVB dose did not correlate with melanoma-specific survival.
Conclusions:
- Evidence for a significant association between pre-diagnosis sun exposure and melanoma survival is weak.
- Sun exposure before melanoma diagnosis appears to have minimal impact on patient survival.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Skin Cancer
5.2K
Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
5.2K
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
857
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
857
01:35Mutations
31.2K
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
31.2K
01:19Pigmentation
3.8K
The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
3.8K
01:20Comparing the Survival Analysis of Two or More Groups
707
Survival analysis is a cornerstone of medical research, used to evaluate the time until an event of interest occurs, such as death, disease recurrence, or recovery. Unlike standard statistical methods, survival analysis is particularly adept at handling censored data—instances where the event has not occurred for some participants by the end of the study or remains unobserved. To address these unique challenges, specialized techniques like the Kaplan-Meier estimator, log-rank test, and...
707
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
7.8K
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
7.8K