Ultraviolet Photoproduct Levels in Melanocytic Nevi and Surrounding Epidermis in Human Skin In Situ

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 118; no. 1; pp. 180 - 184
• Main Authors: Zhao, Chunyan, Hemminki, Kari, Snellman, Erna, Jansen, Christer T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Danvers, MA Elsevier Inc 01.01.2002; Nature Publishing; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Color; cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer; Dermatology; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; melanoma; Middle Aged; Nevus, Pigmented - metabolism; Nevus, Pigmented - pathology; Pyrimidine Dimers - metabolism; Skin - metabolism; Skin - radiation effects; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; ultraviolet radiation; Ultraviolet Rays; ultraviolet radiation; cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer; melanoma; Human; Skin disease; Ultraviolet radiation; In situ; Epidermis; Biological effect; Melanocytic nevus
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1046/j.0022-202x.2001.01654.x

Melanocytic nevi are localized benign proliferations of melanocytes. The number of nevi has been shown to be the major risk marker for the development of cutaneous melanoma. This study compares the induction of photoproducts in nevi and in surrounding skin after exposure to solar-simulating radiation. Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (TT=T and TT=C) and 6–4 photoproducts (TT–T and TT–C) were measured in 20 nevi and 20 surrounding skin samples obtained from 14 subjects, using a 32P-postlabeling method. The amount of all four types of photoproducts in nevi was found to be 3–5-fold lower than that in surrounding skin, and the difference was statistically significant (paired t test, p < 0.01). In nevi, the photoproduct level was significantly associated with the color of nevi (the lowest level in the darkest color of nevi; r = -0.86, p < 0.01 for TT=T; r = -0.68, p < 0.01 for TT=C). Our findings suggest that the magnitude of the DNA damage is not a sole risk marker for the development of cutaneous melanoma.