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Studies in the area of skin cancer reported from University of Munster
2009 AUG 24 - (NewsRx.com) -- "The growing incident rates of skin cancer and their corresponding precursor lesions, e. g. actinic keratosis (AK), among Caucasians have become an important public health problem. A multicenter case-control study was conducted to identify the risk factors of AK of a prototypical Central European population," scientists in Munster, Germany report. "The study population comprised a total of 331 cases and 383 controls. Using multivariate analysis we identified ten independent variables predicting the AK risk. The five most crucial were age (OR 1.11; 95% CI 1.08-1,14), gender (OR 3.92; 95% CI 2.42-6.36), history of previous skin malignancies (OR 6.47; 95% CI 3.21-13.03), pale skin phototype (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.53-4.06), and sun exposure for occupational reasons (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.01-2.92). Additionally, sun exposure for recreational reasons, denial of the use of sunscreens, painful sunburn episodes before the age of 20, and a familial history of skin malignancies are also significant independent correlates of AK. Our epidemiological data suggest that constitutional susceptibility and sunlight exposure are equally involved in the onset of AK. Additional prophylactic and educational efforts should focus on increasing sun protection policies and educational programs especially aimed at outdoor workers, men, fair skinned individuals and patients with a history of previous skin malignancies," wrote P. Hensen and colleagues, University of Munster. The researchers concluded: "These measures should be able to reduce the excessive incidence rates of AK among Caucasians in Central Europe.." Hensen and colleagues published their study in European Journal of Dermatology (Predisposing factors of actinic keratosis in a North-West German population. European Journal of Dermatology, 2009;19(4):345-354). For more information, contact C. Sunderkotter, University of Munster, Dept. of Dermatology, Von Esmarch Str 58, D-48149 Munster, Germany. Publisher contact information for the European Journal of Dermatology is: John Libbey Eurotext Ltd., 127 Avenue de La Republique, 92120 Montrouge, France. Keywords: Germany, Munster, Actinic Keratosis, Clinical Trial Research, Dermatology, Gender Health, Gender Medicine, Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer, Non-Melanoma Skin Carcinoma, Oncology, Public Health, Skin Neoplasms, Sunburn, Women's Health, University of Munster. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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