Ultraviolet radiation and risk of cutaneous melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma in males and females in the Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Workers cohort

Abstract

Background Increased risk of cutaneous melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been reported among petroleum workers, but few studies include females, exposure data on ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and potential confounding factors. We aimed to examine UVR exposure in relation to risk of melanoma and SCC among male and female offshore petroleum workers. We also examined the association between UVR exposure and melanoma (Breslow) thickness. Methods The Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Workers (NOPW) cohort (n = 27,917) holds information on sunbathing, indoor tanning, sunburns, sunscreen use, and other lifestyle factors recorded in 1998. Linkage to the Cancer Registry of Norway gave information on cancer diagnosis through 2017. We used Cox and logistic regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of skin cancer and odds ratios (OR) of thick (≥1 mm) melanomas, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Melanoma risk increased with increasing frequency of sunbathing after age 20 (ptrend = 0.031), sunburn average intensity (ptrend = 0.028), and sunscreen use (HR = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.42 ‐3.27 for almost always vs. never/rarely). The risk of thick melanoma was inversely associated with sunbathing frequency after age 20 (OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.16 ‐ 0.90 for ≥4 weeks/year vs. 1 week/year). SCC risk increased with increasing frequency of indoor tanning after age 20 (HR = 2.72; 95% CI: 1.22 ‐ 6.05 for ≥3 times/months vs. never), sunburn average intensity (ptrend < 0.001), and sunscreen use (ptrend < 0.001). Conclusions Our results support associations between UVR exposure and skin cancer risk in male and female offshore petroleum workers. This occupational group may be especially relevant for targeted sun protection advice.

Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of 755 Patients with Skin Cancers in Hainan, China: A 12-Year Retrospective Study

“…Our results supported associations between UV exposure and skin cancer risk, which was in accordance with prior studies of similar latitudes such as Norwegian [14] . Furthermore, Bulliard et al [15] and Cress et al [16] have also demonstrated that the most common site of skin cancers developed on appear to be somewhat related to the average amount of UV exposure to those sites,namely, the head and neck.…”

Pre-diagnostic DNA methylation in blood leucocytes in cutaneous melanoma; a nested case–control study within the Norwegian Women and Cancer cohort

“…Previous cancer studies have included only one sex, either only females 14 or males 49 . Studies addressing association between UV exposure and melanoma, found no interaction between sun exposure and sex 50 . The GSE120878 data set was balanced with respect to sex ratio, and the p-value for any sex differences between the groups not significant 21 .…”

Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of 755 Patients with Skin Cancers in Hainan, China: A 12-Year Retrospective Study

“…Our results was in accordance with prior studies of similar latitudes such as Norwegian. 13 Skin cancers are rare in rarely UV-exposed areas such as the buttocks in both sexes. In addition, Paget's disease is more common in genital parts, and it is easy to be misdiagnosed as eczema in male.…”