Diet quality is associated with primary melanoma thickness

Abstract

Background Patients' diets can influence the outcome of several common cancers, but the effect on melanoma prognosis is unknown. Objective To assess the association between quality of melanoma patients' prediagnosis diets and primary tumour thickness, the main prognostic indicator for melanoma.Methods We used baseline data from patients newly diagnosed with tumour stage Ib to IV cutaneous melanoma, with completed questionnaires about food intake in the past year and other factors. Diet quality was measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and melanoma thickness was extracted from histopathology reports. We estimated prevalence ratios (PR adj ) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for confounding factors using Poisson regression models to assess associations between HEI scores and melanoma thickness. ResultsOf 634 study patients, 238 (38%) had melanomas >2 mm thick at diagnosis. Patients with the highest HEI scores were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with thick melanoma than patients with lowest HEI scores (PR adj 0.93, 95% CI 0.86-0.99) (P trend = 0.03). There was no evidence of effect modification by age, sex, previous melanoma or comorbidities.Conclusions Melanoma thickness at diagnosis is significantly associated with quality of patients' diets before diagnosis.

Highlights from the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology in 2022

“…A study of 634 patients, 38% of whom had high‐risk (>2 mm) melanomas, revealed the influence that diet quality had on the development of this skin cancer. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was adopted to assess diet quality, and it was shown that melanoma patients who had good diets in the year preceding their diagnosis were less likely to have thick (>2 mm) melanomas than those who consumed a poor‐quality diet 6 …”

“…The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was adopted to assess diet quality, and it was shown that melanoma patients who had good diets in the year preceding their diagnosis were less likely to have thick (>2 mm) melanomas than those who consumed a poorquality diet. 6 Melanomas in the nail organ are a particular condition that can be difficult to detect, but these can be effectively treated according to an algorithm that minimizes unnecessary amputations. 7 It is true that the influence of pregnancy on the development of melanoma is currently being debated.…”

No association between physical activity and primary melanoma thickness in a cohort of Norwegian women

“…Dear Editor, Knowledge about factors associated with melanoma thickness, the most important prognostic factor for localized primary melanoma survival, 1 may help reduce the risk of melanoma deaths. Previously reported associations of melanoma thickness with pigmentary characteristics, number of naevi, diet quality and body mass index (BMI) [2][3][4] may be explained by behavioural and biological mechanisms. Physical activity (PA) has been associated with improved outcomes for several cancers, 5 but its relation with melanoma thickness and prognosis is unknown.…”

Associations of Dietary Factors with Cutaneous Melanoma: A Case-Control Study in Greece with Literature Review

“…Specifically, healthy dietary habits, such as the Mediterranean diet, may be considered a potential chemopreventive intervention, given that they can offer multiple long-term health benefits [ 10 ]. Risk factors for CM have been intensively studied, although less research has been conducted regarding specific parameters of diet including assessment of overall dietary patterns, diet quality, specific food groups of interest, meal timing, energy balance, and nutrient intakes/adequacy [ 11 , 12 ]. Specifically, it has been shown that adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of CM [ 11 ], while a higher Healthy Eating Index, a measure of diet quality, has been correlated with reduced CM thickness, serving as a potential surrogate marker for decreased mortality risk, highlighting the intricate interplay between diet and CM [ 12 ].…”

“…Risk factors for CM have been intensively studied, although less research has been conducted regarding specific parameters of diet including assessment of overall dietary patterns, diet quality, specific food groups of interest, meal timing, energy balance, and nutrient intakes/adequacy [ 11 , 12 ]. Specifically, it has been shown that adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of CM [ 11 ], while a higher Healthy Eating Index, a measure of diet quality, has been correlated with reduced CM thickness, serving as a potential surrogate marker for decreased mortality risk, highlighting the intricate interplay between diet and CM [ 12 ]. On the other hand, recent research has indicated a potential association between the consumption of citrus products, which are recognized natural sources of the photocarcinogenic furocoumarins, and an elevated risk of CM [ 13 , 14 ].…”