Abstract
The incidences of malignant melanoma recorded by 59 population-based cancer registries were investigated to determine the effects of racial and skin-colour differences. White populations exhibited a wide range of melanoma incidences and females commonly, though not invariably, had a higher incidence than males. Non-white populations experienced in general a much lower incidence of melanoma although there was some overlap of white and non-white rates. No predominant sex difference emerged among non-whites. Populations of African descent were found to have a higher incidence than those of Asiatic origin, but it was concluded that this was due largely to the high frequency of tumours among Africans on the sole of the foot. A clear negative correlation between degree of skin pigmentation and melanoma incidence emerged for the exposed body sites. These data provide strong support for the hypotheses that UV radiation is a major cause of malignant melanoma and that melanin pigmentation protects against it. Further research is required to elucidate the aetiology of melanoma of the sole of the foot.
Highlights
Summary.-The incidences of malignant melanoma recorded by 59 populationbased cancer registries were investigated to determine the effects of racial and skincolour differences
A report of a study based on Volume II of the series Cancer Incidence in Five Continents suggested that in some cases high melanoma incidence may be related to a high incidence at all sites, but no formal analysis was presented to support this (MacDonald et al, 19n)
The melanoma incidence rates analysed in this study probably represent the most reliable information available, yet like much survey data they have their limitations
Summary
Summary.-The incidences of malignant melanoma recorded by 59 populationbased cancer registries were investigated to determine the effects of racial and skincolour differences. A clear negative correlation between degree of skin pigmentation and melanoma incidence emerged for the exposed body sites. These data provide strong support for the hypotheses that UV radiation is a major cause of malignant melanoma and that melanin pigmentation protects against it. Europeans expenence a much lower frequency of melanoma on the foot; the majority of the tumours occur on the other body sites (Magnus, 1973; Lee & Yongchaiyudha, 1971; Davis et al, 1966). Different populations, recorded by 59 populationbased cancer registries distributed throughout the world. Where the registry covered a range of the average was taken
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