TY - JOUR T1 - Skin Aging from Ultraviolet Irradiance and Smoking Reduces Risk of Melanoma: Epidemiological Evidence JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 4003 LP - 4008 VL - 28 IS - 6B AU - WILLIAM B. GRANT Y1 - 2008/11/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/28/6B/4003.abstract N2 - Long-term smoking appears to be inversely correlated with development of melanoma. Chronic ultraviolet (UV) irradiance also reduces and/or delays the development of melanoma. Thus, a common process is indicated. To examine the link between smoking and melanoma, articles reporting the relation between incidence of lung cancer and melanoma for individuals were sought. A very strong inverse correlation (r=-0.96) was found between the standardized incidence ratios for lung cancer and melanoma, passing through the value of 1 for each with a slope of -0.74. Smoking increases skin aging or elastosis in a manner similar to that of UV irradiance. Development of elastosis seems to explain why long-term smoking and chronic UV irradiance reduce the risk of melanoma. Further work is required to elucidate the mechanism whereby elastosis retards and reduces the development of melanoma. Copyright© 2008 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved ER -