Nutritional Interventions for Patients with Melanoma: From Prevention to Therapy—An Update

Abstract

Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer, whose incidence rates have increased over the past few decades. Risk factors for melanoma are both intrinsic (genetic and familiar predisposition) and extrinsic (environment, including sun exposure, and lifestyle). The recent advent of targeted and immune-based therapies has revolutionized the treatment of melanoma, and research is focusing on strategies to optimize them. Obesity is an established risk factor for several cancer types, but its possible role in the etiology of melanoma is controversial. Body mass index, body surface area, and height have been related to the risk for cutaneous melanoma, although an ‘obesity paradox’ has been described too. Increasing evidence suggests the role of nutritional factors in the prevention and management of melanoma. Several studies have demonstrated the impact of dietary attitudes, specific foods, and nutrients both on the risk for melanoma and on the progression of the disease, via the effects on the oncological treatments. The aim of this narrative review was to summarize the main literature results regarding the preventive and therapeutic role of nutritional schemes, specific foods, and nutrients on melanoma incidence and progression.

The Link Between Obesity and the Skin

“…Increased BMI has been revealed as a risk factor for skin melanoma. However, the link is not as strong as in other malignancies ( 51 , 52 ). In contrast, even a “obesity paradox” was disclosed for melanoma ( 51 ).…”

“…However, the link is not as strong as in other malignancies (51,52). In contrast, even a "obesity paradox" was disclosed for melanoma (51). Gut microbiome modulation by diet could be the explanation and, possibly, the link between obesity and melanoma (53).…”

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

“…Indeed, energy intake was found not to be associated with CM in some studies [ 34 , 42 ] ( Table 4 ); in the study by Millen et al [ 38 ], the positive association (2021 kcal/day vs. 1,063 kcal/day: OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.68–1.69) was not statistically significant, whereas in our study, an increment of one SD in total energy intake was associated with a 67% increase in CM odds (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.22–2.30). Higher energy intake is expected on average to lead to increased BMI, an index also associated with several cancer types, including CM [ 45 ]. Actually, two meta-analyses of observational studies [ 23 , 46 ] reported a positive association between increased BMI and CM in males, and our findings are in the same direction, showing a marginally non-significant positive association in males (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 0.95–2.67, and in females, OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.32–1.30).…”

LINC01296 promotes proliferation of cutaneous malignant melanoma by regulating miR-324-3p/MAPK1 axis

“…The patients with CMM are often diagnosed as advanced stage due to the inadequate attention, which is explained as one of the reasons for its poor prognosis and high mortality [ 19 ]. So due to the unsatisfaction of relatively poor diagnosis and prognosis of CMM, numerous studies on association between the related factors and the treatment of CMM have been receiving increasing attention [ 20 , 21 ]. Therefore, searching for these novel treatments are of great significance for CMM.…”