17 Mar Study Finds Lower Risk of Melanoma in Patients with Atopic History

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Jenni Komulainen
University of Eastern Finland | UEF

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: The background for this study comes from the earlier findings that the skin cancer risk and atopic status have some connection, but the results have been inconsistent. The connection between atopy and skin cancers may be related to the stimulation of protective immune response or the predisposition to carcinogenesis through chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate if atopic disorders associate with skin cancers.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response:  The main finding in our study was that among atopic subjects, especially in subjects with mucous membrane atopy, there were reduced risk for melanoma compared to non-atopic subjects. Other essential finding was that the number of cancers in extracutaneous site was also lower in atopic than in non-atopic subjects.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: The atopic disorders seems to relate to lower risk for melanoma.  The mechanism may be related to chronic inflammation or more stimulated immune response in atopic subjects compared to non-atopic, but the mechanism needs further investigation. 

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?

Response: In the future research the focus should be in the investigation of autoreactive IgE in cutaneous microenvironment and comparing the melanoma risk in the skin and mucous membrane atopy.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Response: Future studies are important for increasing the knowledge of the processes, which lead to development of melanoma.

Citation: Komulainen, Jenni; Siiskonen, Hanna; Haimakainen, Salla; Kanasuo, Emilia; Harvima, Rauno J.; Harvima, Ilkka T.. Patients with a history of atopy have fewer cutaneous melanomas than those without atopy: a cross-sectional study in 496 patients at risk of skin cancers. Melanoma Research ():e000887, February 28, 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/CMR.0000000000000887

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Last Updated on March 17, 2023 by Marie Benz