UV exposuie represents the most important risk factor for the development of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Additionally, assessment of sun exposure parameters has consistently shown an association between the development of malignant melanoma and short term, intense UV exposure, particularly burning in childhood. As a consequence, protection of the skin from UV exposure is an integral part of skin cancer prevention programs. However, more chronic, less intense UV exposure has not been found to be a risk factor for melanoma and in fact has been found in some studies to be protective. Moreover, 90% of all requisite vitamin D is formed within the skin through the action of the sun—a serious problem—for a connection between vitamin D deficiency and various types of cancer (e. g. , colon, prostate and breast cancers) has been demonstrated in a large number of studies. Hence, the - sociation between vitamin D deficiency and various internal malignancies has now opened a debate among dermatologists and other clinicians how to balance between positive and negative effects of solar and artificial UV exposure. The goal of this volume is to provide a comprehensive, highly readable overview of our present knowledge of positive and negative effects of UV exposure, with a focus on vitamin D and skin cancer.
Author(s): Michael F. Holick (auth.), Jörg Reichrath (eds.)
Series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 624
Edition: 1
Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York
Year: 2008
Language: English
Commentary: 52362
Pages: 323
Tags: Cancer Research
Front Matter....Pages i-xxi
Sunlight, UV-Radiation, Vitamin D and Skin Cancer: How Much Sunlight Do We Need?....Pages 1-15
Solar Ultraviolet Irradiance and Cancer Incidence and Mortality....Pages 16-30
Vitamin D Status and Cancer Incidence and Mortality....Pages 31-42
Sun Exposure and Cancer Survival in Norway: Changes in the Risk of Death with Season of Diagnosis and Latitude....Pages 43-54
Optimal Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels for Multiple Health Outcomes....Pages 55-71
Ultraviolet Exposure Scenarios: Risks of Erythema from Recommendations on Cutaneous Vitamin D Synthesis....Pages 72-85
At What Time Should One Go Out in the Sun?....Pages 86-88
Epidemiology of Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer—The Role of Sunlight....Pages 89-103
Ultraviolet Radiation and Malignant Melanoma....Pages 104-116
Solar UV Exposure and Mortality from Skin Tumors....Pages 117-124
Health Initiatives for the Prevention of Skin Cancer....Pages 125-136
Sunscreens....Pages 137-161
UV Damage and DNA Repair in Malignant Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer....Pages 162-178
Role of Viruses in the Development of Squamous Cell Cancer and Melanoma....Pages 179-186
Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers and the Immune System....Pages 187-202
Solar UV-Radiation, Vitamin D and Skin Cancer Surveillance in Organ Transplant Recipients (OTRs)....Pages 203-214
Histology of Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer....Pages 215-226
Cytogenetics of Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer....Pages 227-240
Molecular Biology of Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas....Pages 241-251
Molecular Biology of Malignant Melanoma....Pages 252-264
p53 Protein and Pathogenesis of Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer....Pages 265-282
Apoptosis and Pathogenesis of Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer....Pages 283-295
Treatment of Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer....Pages 296-318
Back Matter....Pages 319-323
