Skin microtopography as a measure of photoaging and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in a US population

Abstract

Background Skin microtopography as a measure of photoaging is a non-invasive approach to measuring chronic ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, and reflects the degree of dermal elastosis in populations of European descent in the subtropics. Less is known about the utility of this approach in populations at different latitudes, and whether it relates to skin cancer risk. Methods A population-based case-control study of 342 SCC cases and 331 age- and gender-matched controls were evaluated for histologic evidence of solar damage and severity of photoaging based on microtopography on a six-grade scale. Odds ratios for SCC associated with degree of photoaging were estimated using logistic regression analysis adjusted for potentially confounding factors. Results After adjustment for known risk factors, SCC was associated with increasing photoaging grade (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 0.9–3.0 for severe photoaging; OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.6–5.0 for very severe photoaging). Associations remained among those with actinic keratosis (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 0.9–12.4 for severe photoaging, OR = 5.7, 95% CI = 1.7–19.6 for very severe photoaging). Limitations There was limited statistical power, particularly for subgroup analyses. Conclusion Our findings provide further evidence of microtopography as an independent, objective indicator of risk of SCC.

Early Life UV and Risk of Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma in New South Wales, Australia

“…Similar proportions of cases (36%) and controls (34%) consented to participate. Host factors were self‐reported, as in many studies, as were solar keratoses; we found the latter influenced skin cancer risk in NSW similarly to other high and low ambient UV environments. Individual past sun exposure is almost impossible to measure accurately .…”

“…) than in New Hampshire (30%; Ref. ) or readily develop a tan (Australia 30–36%; Ref. ) than in the US Nurses Health Study (14%; Ref.…”

Optical coherence tomography‐based non‐invasive evaluation of premalignant lesions in SKH‐1 mice

“…It is known that individuals who are often exposed to the sun, such as construction workers, farmers, sailors, and truck drivers, frequently suffer from severe effects of UVR over a lifetime 34, 35 . For these individuals, apart from taking other preventive measures, 36 regular monitoring of sun‐exposed skin by OCT could be meaningful and prevent the development of skin cancer, such as cSCC 37, 38 . Once the typical shape of the DEJ and a continuous increase in epidermal thickness are found, this may indicate that the skin is undergoing AK.…”

Circulating Immunosuppressive Regulatory T Cells Predict Risk of Incident Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…The study dermatopathologist confirmed all cuSCC diagnoses and graded the degree of solar elastosis present in the adjacent normal tissue, a measure of cumulative UVR (30). Solar elastosis was graded on a 4-point scale: 0: no presence of elastotic fibers or very occasional elastotic fibers; 1: scattered elastotic fibers lying as individual units between collagen bundles; 2: densely scattered elastotic fibers distributed predominantly as bushels rather than individual units; 3: dense aggregates of elastotic fibers forming amorphous deposits of blue-gray material with lost fiber texture (33)(34)(35).…”