Individuals with atopic disorders may have lower risk of melanoma

Finland: The relationship between atopic disorders, characterized by hypersensitivity reactions such as allergies and asthma, and the development of skin cancers has been a topic of interest among researchers. A new study published in Melanoma Research by Komulainen Jenni and team aimed to investigate whether a history of atopic disorders is associated with cutaneous photodamage, pigment cell nevi, and skin cancers. The findings of the study shed light on the potential protective role of atopy, particularly mucus membrane atopy, against melanoma.

The study involved adult subjects at risk of any type of skin cancer, with a focus on melanoma. A total of 496 individuals (250 males, 246 females, including 94 with immunosuppression) aged 21 to 79 years were examined for past or present malignancies, photodamage, nevi, and atopic disorders. The presence of atopic disorders in the skin or mucus membranes, as well as other cancer-related factors, was assessed. The association between atopy and various skin conditions and cancers was analyzed using multivariate statistical methods.

● The study did not find any association between atopy and photodamage, keratinocyte carcinomas, or nevus count.

● There were fewer individuals with a history of melanoma among those with atopic disorders (14.6%) compared to nonatopic subjects (22.2%) (P = 0.044).

● The risk class of skin cancers, as estimated by the investigators, was also lower in individuals with atopic disorders.

● The multivariate analysis showed that the odds ratio for melanoma was 0.583 (P = 0.046; 95% confidence interval: 0.343-0.990) in individuals with atopic disorders.

● The reduced risk was primarily associated with mucus membrane atopy (OR = 0.417; P = 0.020) in immunocompetent subjects.

● A lower incidence of malignancies in extracutaneous sites (ECS) was observed among individuals with atopic disorders (8.8%) compared to nonatopic subjects (15.7%) (P = 0.031).

The study suggests that individuals with a history of atopic disorders, particularly mucus membrane atopy, may have a lower risk of developing melanoma. These findings indicate a potential protective effect of atopy against the development of this aggressive form of skin cancer. However, no association was found between atopy and other skin conditions, such as photodamage or nevi count. Additionally, serum total immunoglobulin-E (IgE) levels did not show any significant association with skin cancers or other skin conditions.

Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms behind the observed lower risk of melanoma in individuals with atopic disorders. These findings may have implications for future studies on melanoma prevention and treatment strategies, particularly in individuals with a history of atopy.