Melanoma in Maori, Asian, and Pacific Peoples in New Zealand

Sneyd, Mary Jane; Cox, Brian

doi:10.1158/1055-9965.epi-08-0682

Cited by 27 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…We have previously reported an association between perceived risk of developing skin cancer and sun-protective behaviors among a sample of outdoor workers (18). A recently published study found increases in melanoma among the Maori and Pacific populations of NZ (19), and although we know that there is a range of skin types among Maori (20), further research is required into whether the dark shift phenomenon may have contributed to these outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Questionnaire Items to Assess Skin Color and Erythemal Sensitivity: Reliability, Validity, and “the Dark Shift”

Reeder

Hammond

Gray

2010

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &Amp; Prevention

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Background: Skin pigmentation is a key factor for UV radiation exposure related cancers. To appropriately target cancer control activities related to this exposure and for better representation in epidemiologic studies, a valid and reliable assessment of skin color is required.Methods: The validity and reliability of two self-report measures were assessed: skin color and erythemal sensitivity. A sample of 289 university students categorized their unexposed skin color and photosensitivity via a questionnaire. Skin color was also measured by spectrophotometer. After 7 days, participants repeated the self-report assessment.Results: Significant correlations were found for both self-report items with objective measures, indicating that these items may be valid assessment tools (color: Spearman's ρ = −0.75, P < 0.001; photosensitivity: Spearman's ρ = −0.64, P < 0.001). No sex differences in validity were evident. Stronger correlations were found among those of European than those of non-European ethnicity (color: Spearman's ρ = −0.78 versus −0.59, bootstrap P = 0.007; photosensitivity: Spearman's ρ = −0.63 versus −0.28, bootstrap P = 0.001). Strong biases toward overestimation of skin pigmentation were evident, ranging from 36% in the self-identified fair skin group to 77% in the medium skin color group. Intrarater reliability of the questionnaire items was high (color: k = 0.78, P < 0.001; photosensitivity: k = 0.77, P < 0.001).Conclusions: Study findings suggest that self-report may be a valid measurement strategy when assessing skin type, but there is a bias toward overestimation of skin color and, potentially, UV radiation resilience.Impact: This bias has the potential to undermine the effectiveness of skin cancer prevention efforts and needs to be addressed in health promotion programs. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(5); 1167-73.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Questionnaire Items to Assess Skin Color and Erythemal Sensitivity: Reliability, Validity, and “the Dark Shift”

Reeder

Hammond

Gray

2010

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &Amp; Prevention

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“…In the state of Texas, skin cancer rates were approximately five times greater for light-skinned people compared with dark-skinned people. Other studies in Australia and New Zealand compared skin cancer rates of light-skinned individuals to aboriginal residents (e.g., Haynes et al, 2008;Sneyd and Cox, 2009;Olsen et al, 2012). The results were consistently the same: lighter-skinned individuals had higher skin cancer rates.…”

mentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Like all skin cancers, lightly pigmented populations are at greater risk of developing CMM, although it is present in more darkly pigmented populations in lower proportions (Table 1; also see Camain et al, 1972;Soeripto et al, 1977;Bang et al, 1987;Neugut et al, 1994;Yakubu and Mabogunje, 1995;Sneyd and Cox, 2009). Accordingly, one cannot easily dismiss skin cancer as a selective pressure in the adaptation to UVR.…”

Section: Skin Cancer Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A life history perspective on skin cancer and the evolution of skin pigmentation

Osborne

Hames

2013

American J Phys Anthropol

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The ancestral state of human skin pigmentation evolved in response to high ultraviolet radiation (UVR) stress. Some argue that pigmentation evolved to limit folate photolysis, therein limiting neural tube defects. Pigmentation also protects against sunburn which decreases the efficiency of sweating and potentiates skin infection. Pigmentation increases the efficacy of skin as a barrier to infection. Skin cancer has been rejected or minimized as a selective pressure because it is believed to have little or no effect on mortality during reproductive years. This argument ignores evidence of human longevity as a derived life history trait and the adaptive value of investment in offspring and kin, particularly during the post-reproductive lifespan. Opponents argue that lifespan in prehistoric hunter-gatherers was too short to be relevant to the evolution of skin pigmentation. This argument is flawed in that it relies on estimates of longevity at birth rather than adolescence. When appropriate estimates are used, it is clear that human longevity has a deep evolutionary history. We use a life history perspective to demonstrate the value of skin pigmentation as an adaptation to skin cancer with the following points: UVR exposure increases dysregulation of gene expression in skin cells leading to immortal cell lines; cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) affects individuals throughout reproductive years; and lifespan was longer than has previously been acknowledged, providing the opportunity for kin selection. This hypothesis is not at odds with the folate or barrier hypotheses. We stress that the evolution of skin pigmentation is complex and is an ongoing process.

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“…Outlook for patients with thin invasive melanoma is positive, although continued clinical vigilance is warranted for patients with nodular melanoma and those with the thickest tumors (Green et al, 2012). Cutaneous melanoma is much less common among Maori than among New Zealand Europeans, but Maori have a greater Breslow depth and therefore have a worse prognosis (Hore et al, 2010) Minority ethnicities in New Zealand have a higher than expected risk of thick and more advanced melanoma, with poorer prognosis (Sneyd and Cox, 2009). …”

Section: Skinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of Cancer Registration Research in the Asian Pacific from 2008-2013

Moore¹

2013

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

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Melanoma in Maori, Asian, and Pacific Peoples in New Zealand

Cited by 27 publications

References 24 publications

Questionnaire Items to Assess Skin Color and Erythemal Sensitivity: Reliability, Validity, and “the Dark Shift”

Questionnaire Items to Assess Skin Color and Erythemal Sensitivity: Reliability, Validity, and “the Dark Shift”

A life history perspective on skin cancer and the evolution of skin pigmentation

Overview of Cancer Registration Research in the Asian Pacific from 2008-2013

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