A new understanding in the epidemiology of melanoma

Abstract

The incidence of melanoma is continuing to increase worldwide. UV exposure is a known risk factor for melanoma. Geographic location is known to influence UV exposure and the distribution of the incidence of melanoma. Furthermore, epidemiologic data suggest that gender and genetics may influence the distribution of melanoma on the body surface and histopathologic characteristics of the lesion. This article describes what is known about the impact of gender, ethnicity and geography on the progression of melanoma. Advanced-stage cutaneous melanoma has a median survival time of less than 1 year. Surgical removal, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies and a variety of immunotherapies have been utilized in the treatment of melanoma. Current treatment strategies and the results of recent clinical trials are also discussed in this article.

Keywords::

• anatomic distribution
• epidemiology
• ethnicity
• gender
• geography
• melanoma

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The project described was supported by Award Number K12GM088021 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences or the National Institutes of Health. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.