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Biotech / Medical : Biotech Valuation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Robohogs who wrote (30891)	4/11/2009 12:44:01 PM
From: DewDiligence_on_SI	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 52153

John, I’m very sorry to hear about your father’s melanoma. The sun’s UV radiation is indeed a killer—so much so that it almost seems implausible that we evolved in such a hostile environment. For many years, I’ve used a hat, sunglasses, and a zinc-based sunscreen whenever I go outside, regardless of the season or time of day. You should probably do the same if you are not doing it already. Even indoors, the exposure to UVA in sunlit rooms can be significant and justifies use of a sunscreen if the amount of time is considerable. I hope you didn’t take offense at my attempt at jocularity in #30886. Regards, Dew

To: Robohogs who wrote (30891)	4/11/2009 1:59:57 PM
From: Biomaven	2 Recommendations Respond to of 52153

Sorry to hear about your dad. The relationship between sun exposure and melanoma has always been a bit murky (in contrast to the clear link between non-melanoma skin cancers and sun exposure). Part of the problem has been some studies that have shown an inverse association for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. Here's a recent large meta-study that summarizes the current state of play - for head and neck melanomas it doesn't look like sun exposure is much of a factor except for occupational exposure at low latitudes, but overall there seems to be a clear link: 1: Int J Epidemiol. 2009 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print] Sun exposure and melanoma risk at different latitudes: a pooled analysis of 5700 cases and 7216 controls. Chang YM, Barrett JH, Bishop DT, Armstrong BK, Bataille V, Bergman W, Berwick M, Bracci PM, Elwood JM, Ernstoff MS, Gallagher RP, Green AC, Gruis NA, Holly EA, Ingvar C, Kanetsky PA, Karagas MR, Lee TK, Marchand LL, Mackie RM, Olsson H, Osterlind A, Rebbeck TR, Sasieni P, Siskind V, Swerdlow AJ, Titus-Ernstoff L, Zens MS, Newton-Bishop JA. Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds, UK. BACKGROUND: Melanoma risk is related to sun exposure; we have investigated risk variation by tumour site and latitude. METHODS: We performed a pooled analysis of 15 case-control studies (5700 melanoma cases and 7216 controls), correlating patterns of sun exposure, sunburn and solar keratoses (three studies) with melanoma risk. Pooled odds ratios (pORs) and 95% Bayesian confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Bayesian unconditional polytomous logistic random-coefficients models. RESULTS: Recreational sun exposure was a risk factor for melanoma on the trunk (pOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.4-2.2) and limbs (pOR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.7), but not head and neck (pOR = 1.1; 95% CI: 0.8-1.4), across latitudes. Occupational sun exposure was associated with risk of melanoma on the head and neck at low latitudes (pOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0-3.0). Total sun exposure was associated with increased risk of melanoma on the limbs at low latitudes (pOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0-2.2), but not at other body sites or other latitudes. The pORs for sunburn in childhood were 1.5 (95% CI: 1.3-1.7), 1.5 (95% CI: 1.3-1.7) and 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1-1.7) for melanoma on the trunk, limbs, and head and neck, respectively, showing little variation across latitudes. The presence of head and neck solar keratoses was associated with increased risk of melanoma on the head and neck (pOR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.7-9.1) and limbs (pOR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.9-8.4). CONCLUSION: Melanoma risk at different body sites is associated with different amounts and patterns of sun exposure. Recreational sun exposure and sunburn are strong predictors of melanoma at all latitudes, whereas measures of occupational and total sun exposure appear to predict melanoma predominately at low latitudes.