The association between Parkinson's disease and melanoma

• Published in: International journal of cancer Vol. 128; no. 10; pp. 2251 - 2260
• Main Authors: Pan, Tianhong, Li, Xinqun, Jankovic, Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 15.05.2011; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: alpha‐synuclein; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; CYP2D6 protein; Cytochrome P450; Dermatology; Dopamine receptors; Epidemiology; Glutathione; Humans; Hydroxylase; Incidence; LRRK2 protein; Medical research; Medical sciences; Melanin; Melanoma; Melanoma - complications; Movement disorders; Neurodegenerative diseases; Parkin protein; Parkinson Disease - complications; Parkinson's disease; Phagocytosis; Pigmentation; Risk Factors; Skin; Substantia nigra; Synuclein; Tumorigenesis; Tumors; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; tyrosinase; Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; tyrosine hydroxylase; Vitamin D; Human; Skin disease; Nervous system diseases; Parkinson's disease; Enzyme; Parkinson disease; melanoma; Malignant tumor; Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; tyrosinase; Epidemiology; Cerebral disorder; tyrosine hydroxylase; Cancerology; Central nervous system disease; Risk factor; Malignant melanoma; Degenerative disease; Oxidoreductases; Public health; Alpha-synuclein; Melanin; Cancer; Extrapyramidal syndrome
• ISSN: 0020-7136; 1097-0215; 1097-0215
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25912

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a loss of melanin‐positive, dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Although there is convincing epidemiologic evidence of a negative association between PD and most cancers, a notable exception to this is that melanoma, a malignant tumor of melanin‐producing cells in skin, occurs with higher‐than‐expected frequency among subjects with PD and that melanoma patients are more likely to have PD. A clear biological explanation for this epidemiological observation is lacking. Here, we present a comprehensive review of published literature exploring the association between PD and melanoma. On the basis of published findings, we conclude that (i) changes in pigmentation including melanin synthesis and/or melanin synthesis enzymes, such as tyrosinase and tyrosine hydroxylase, play important roles in altered vulnerability for both PD and melanoma; (ii) changes of PD‐related genes such as Parkin, LRRK2 and α‐synuclein may increase the risk of melanoma; (iii) changes in some low‐penetrance genes such as cytochrome p450 debrisoquine hydroxylase locus, glutathione S‐transferase M1 and vitamin D receptor could increase the risk for both PD and melanoma and (iv) impaired autophagy in both PD and melanoma could also explain the association between PD and melanoma. Future studies are required to address whether altered pigmentation, PD‐ or melanoma‐related gene changes and/or changes in autophagy function induce oncogenesis or apoptosis. From a clinical point of view, early diagnosis of melanoma in PD patients is critical and can be enhanced by periodic dermatological surveillance, including skin biopsies.