Abstract
Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) generally have reduced risk of developing many types of cancers, except melanoma—a malignant tumor of melanin-producing cells in the skin. For decades, a large number of epidemiological studies have reported that the occurrence of melanoma is higher than expected among subjects with PD, and the occurrence of PD is reciprocally higher than expected among patients with melanoma. More recent epidemiological studies further indicated a bidirectional association, not only in the patients themselves but also in their relatives. This association between PD and melanoma offers a unique opportunity to understand PD. Here, we summarize epidemiological, clinical, and biological evidence in regard to shared risk factors and possible underlying mechanisms for these two seemingly distinct conditions.
Highlights
Epidemiological studies have provided substantial insight into our understanding of Parkinson’s disease (PD)
Lower serum vitamin D levels were found in patients with PD (Sleeman et al, 2017), and vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased risk of the disease (Sato et al, 1997; Evatt et al, 2008)
This study showed that larger echogenicity of SN correlated with lower serum iron in patients with melanoma, consistent with prior findings in PD (Walter et al, 2016)
Summary
Epidemiological studies have provided substantial insight into our understanding of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The finding that a family history of melanoma in first-degree relatives was associated with a higher risk of PD suggests shared genetic predispositions (Gao et al, 2009a). Red hair color has been associated with an increased risk of developing PD (Chen et al, 2017b).
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