Race-, Age-, and Anatomic Site-Specific Gender Differences in Cutaneous Melanoma Suggest Differential Mechanisms of Early- and Late-Onset Melanoma

Tze-An Yuan, Yunxia Lu, Karen Edwards, James Jakowatz, Frank L. Meyskens and Feng Liu-Smith
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Tze-An Yuan: Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Yunxia Lu: Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Karen Edwards: Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
James Jakowatz: Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Frank L. Meyskens: Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Feng Liu-Smith: Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: In order to explore melanoma risk factors through gender-, age-, race-, and site-specific incidence rates, malignant melanoma cases from the Caucasian whites and non-whites were retrieved from the US SEER database. Age-standardized, age-, and site-specific tumor rates were calculated. All races and both genders showed positive annual average percentage changes (AAPCs) over the years, but AAPCs varied at different body sites, with men’s trunk exhibiting the fastest increase. Non-whites were diagnosed at a significantly younger age than whites and showed a trend towards fewer gender differences in the age of diagnosis. However, non-whites and whites showed a similar pattern of age-specific gender differences in the incidence rate ratios. A consistent spiked difference (female vs. male, incidence rate ratio (IRR) >2) was observed at or near the age of 20–24 in all race groups and at all body sites. The highest female vs. male IRR was found in the hip and lower extremities, and the lowest IRR was found in the head and neck region in all races. These race-, gender-, and site-dependent differences suggest that age-associated cumulative sun exposure weighs significantly more in late-onset melanomas, while genetics and/or pathophysiological factors make important contributions to early-onset melanomas.

Keywords: melanoma; gender difference; race difference; incidence rate; incidence rate ratio; anatomic body site; UV; non-white; annual average percentage change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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