BACKGROUNDHispanics comprise almost one‐third of the population of California, are the most rapidly increasing racial/ethnic group in the state, and represent almost one‐third of all Hispanics in the U.S. California has among the highest rates of melanoma in the world, yet little is known about trends in melanoma in its Hispanic population.METHODSTrends in invasive and in situ melanoma incidence data and melanoma mortality data, between 1988 and 2001, from the California Cancer Registry were analyzed. Trends in the Hispanic population were compared with those in the non‐Hispanic white population. Time trends in tumors of differing thicknesses and histology were assessed.RESULTSThere was a statistically significant 1.8% per year increase in incidence of invasive melanomas among Hispanic males and a similar but nonstatistically significant increase in invasive melanoma among Hispanic females between 1988 and 2001. Among Hispanic males and females tumors thicker than 1.5 mm at presentation increased at 11.6% per year (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.1, 15.2) and 8.9% per year (95% CI, 4.7, 13.3), respectively.CONCLUSIONRates of invasive melanoma have increased markedly among Hispanics in California since 1988. In contrast to trends in the non‐Hispanic white population, increases in melanoma in Hispanics have been confined to thicker tumors, whose prognosis is poor. We recommend that efforts be undertaken immediately to target both primary and secondary melanoma prevention messages to Hispanic communities. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.

In a population-based case-control study in California's intensely agricultural Central Valley (2005-2006), the authors investigated relations between environmental pesticide/fungicide exposure and prostate cancer. Cases (n = 173) were obtained from a population-based cancer registry, and controls (n = 162) were obtained from Medicare listings and tax assessor mailings. Past ambient exposures to pesticides/fungicides were derived from residential history and independently recorded pesticide and land-use data, using a novel geographic information systems approach. In comparison with unexposed persons, increased risks of prostate cancer were observed among persons exposed to compounds which may have prostate-specific biologic effects (methyl bromide (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 2.59) and a group of organochlorines (odds ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 2.63)) but not among those exposed to other compounds that were included as controls (simazine, maneb, and paraquat dichloride). The authors assessed the possibility of selection bias due to less-than-100% enrollment of eligible cases and controls (a critical methodological concern in studies of this kind) and determined that there was little evidence of bias affecting the estimated effect size. This study provides evidence of an association between prostate cancer and ambient pesticide exposures in and around homes in intensely agricultural areas. The associations appear specific to compounds with a plausible biologic role in prostate carcinogenesis.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) promotes normal plasma cell development and proliferation of myeloma cells in culture. We evaluated IL-6 genotypes and body mass index (BMI) in a case-control study of multiple myeloma and plasmacytoma. DNA samples and questionnaires were obtained from incident cases of multiple myeloma (n = 134) and plasmacytoma (n = 16; plasma cell neoplasms) ascertained from the Los Angeles County population-based cancer registry and from siblings or cousins of cases (family controls, n = 112) and population controls (n = 126). Genotypes evaluated included IL-6 promoter gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at positions À174, À572, and À597; one variable number of tandem repeats (À373 A n T n ); and one SNP in the IL-6 receptor (IL-6ra) gene at position À358. The variant allele of the IL-6 promoter SNP À572 was associated with a roughly 2-fold increased risk of plasma cell neoplasms when cases were compared with family [odds ratio (OR), 1.8; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.7-4.7] or population controls (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2-4.7). The À373 9A/9A genotype was associated with a decreased risk compared with the most common genotype (OR for cases versus family controls, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.1-1.7; OR for cases versus population controls, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.9). No other SNPs were associated with risk. Obesity (BMI z 30 kg/m 2 ) increased risk nonsignificantly by 40% and 80% when cases were compared with family controls or population controls, respectively, relative to persons with a BMI of <25 kg/m 2 . These results suggest that IL-6 promoter genotypes may be associated with increased risk of plasma cell neoplasms. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(11):2285 -91)

BACKGROUND:The incidence patterns and socioeconomic distribution of cutaneous melanoma among Hispanics are poorly understood. METHODS: The authors obtained population-based incidence data for all Hispanic and nonHispanic white (NHW) patients who were diagnosed with invasive cutaneous melanoma from 1988 to 2007 in California. By using a neighborhood-level measure of socioeconomic status (SES), the variables investigated included incidence, thickness at diagnosis, histologic subtype, anatomic site, and the relative risk (RR) for thicker (>2 mm) versus thinner ( 2 mm) tumors at diagnosis for groups categorized by SES. RESULTS: Age-adjusted melanoma incidence rates per million were higher in NHWs (P < .0001), and tumor thickness at diagnosis was greater in Hispanics (P < .0001). Sixty-one percent of melanomas in NHWs occurred in the High SES group. Among Hispanics, only 35% occurred in the High SES group; and 22% occurred in the Low SES group. Lower SES was associated with thicker tumors (P < .0001); this association was stronger in Hispanics. The RR of thicker tumors versus thinner tumors ( 2 mm) in the Low SES group versus the High SES group was 1.48 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-1.61) for NHW men and 2.18 (95% CI, 1.73-2.74) for Hispanic men. Patients with lower SES had less of the superficial spreading melanoma subtype (especially among Hispanic men) and more of the nodular melanoma subtype. Leg/hip melanomas were associated with higher SES in NHW men but with lower SES in Hispanic men. CONCLUSIONS: The socioeconomic distribution of melanoma incidence and tumor thickness differed substantially between Hispanic and NHW Californians, particularly among men. Melanoma prevention efforts targeted to lower SES Hispanics and increased physician awareness of melanoma patterns among Hispanics are needed. Cancer 2011;117:152-61.

Some have suggested that tobacco smoke may skew the immune system toward a Th2 pattern, however the effects of genetics or childhood exposures could explain these results. We compared PMBC supernatant or serum Th1 (INF-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) cytokine and IgE levels in members of 45 pairs of nonasthmatic monozygotic twins with varying levels of current cigarette consumption to determine if smoking was associated with Th1/Th2 function after accounting for genetic factors. A statistically significant dose-response was observed between levels of smoking and IL-13 (p=0.05). Mean IL-13 level among heavy smokers (20+ cigarettes/day) was 146% higher than that among nonsmokers (+26.2 pg/mL; p=0.04). The mean IL-5 level among heavy smokers was 166% higher than that among light (<20 cigarettes/day) smokers (+3.4 pg/mL; p=0.03). No statistically significant differences in INF-gamma, IL-4, or IgE levels were observed. Smoking appears to be associated with increased levels of IL-13.