Clinical Epidemiological Studies On Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma

Significant progress has been made in recent years in understanding the origins of cutaneous maligant melanoma. Knowledge of the relationship between solar radiation and melanoma has changed and it now appears that both the character and timing of exposure may be more important than total cumulative dose in accounting for risk. The melanoma-sunlight model may prove an instructive heuristic exercise for environmental epidemiology, as we currently tend to restrict ourselves to a search for uniform total dose--response relationships between cancers and suspected environmental carcinogens. The study of the relationship between acquired melanocytic nevi and melanoma has led to useful new information about predictors of melanoma risk, and in addition has opened new perspectives on the development of nevi in children. Definition of the factors for nevus development in children may lead to the possibility of primary prevention programs for melanoma in younger generations of children. Recent new evidence suggests that certain occupational groups may be at elevated risk of melanoma. A great deal of work is going into the study of ways of screening high risk populations in order to detect melanoma at its earliest stages when current treatment protocols are most effective. The visibility of lesions on the skin challenges classical definitions of early detection and screening in epidemiology.

Interest in the etiology of malignant melanoma has increased enor mously in the last 10 years, after it was realized that the incidence of the cutaneous form of the disease was rising. Treatment of the disease has not improved dramatically, and our best hope for curtailing the rise in mortality and morbidity from the disease appears to be primarily through early detection and, per haps in the future, through prevention. It is thus very important for the medical community to be able to recognize individuals and groups at high risk of the disease because of either familial and con stitutional factors and lifestyle or exposure to environmental risk factors. This book, arising from a meeting held in Vancouver in 1984, pro vides a summary of the latest findings amo ~ Caucasian popula tions along with perspectives on the most im, Jrtant environmental risk factors identified to date. Comparison of results from the four major analytic studies presented here also demonstrates that a num ber of factors implicated in other common cancers are probably not related to the incidence of melanoma. These include smoking, alco hol consumption, and for the most part, diet. The Vancouver conference was sponsored by the Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia, and was financially supported by Health and Welfare Canada (6610-1429-50), the Northern Califor nia Cancer Program (NCCP), Miles Laboratories (Canada), Bristol Myers Laboratories (Canada), and Plough Canada Inc.

Written by the leading melanoma experts from the United States, Australia, and Europe, this new edition incorporates the clinical outcomes of more than 70,000 patients treated at major melanoma centers throughout the world and is the definitive and most authoritative textbook on melanoma used worldwide. Providing the most up-to-date and comprehensive information needed for the clinical management and scientific study of melanoma, Cutaneous Melanoma, 6th edition covers everything from precursors of melanoma to advanced stages of metastatic disease.

This book titled Advances in Malignant Melanoma - Clinical and Research Perspectives represents an international effort to highlight advances in our understanding of malignant melanoma from both clinical and research perspectives. The authors for this book consist of an international group of recognized leaders in melanoma research and patient care, and they share their unique perspectives regarding melanoma epidemiology, risk factors, diagnostic and prognostic tools, phenotypes, treatment, and future research directions. The book is divide into four sections: (1) Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Melanoma, (2) Clinical Phenotypes of Melanoma, (3) Investigational Treatments for Melanoma and Pigmentary Disorders, and (4) Advances in Melanoma Translational Research. This book does not attempt to exhaustively cover all aspects of the aforementioned topics. Rather, it is a compilation of our authors' pearls and unique perspectives on the relevant advances in melanoma during the recent years.

In our environmentally conscious society, reports of an increase in the risk of developing several cancers - including melanoma, lymphoma and lung cancer - have excited great controversy. Of these tumors, melanoma has demonstrated the most spectacular increase, generating a considerable body of research. The justification for this volume is found in the need for an up-to-date review of this research. The book represents a comprehensive review of both current research and clinical management of melanoma, arranged in such a way as to be maximally user-friendly to both the basic scientst and the clinician interested in this fascinating disease.

Melanoma - Current Clinical Management and Future Therapeutics serves as an advanced course in melanoma or an addendum to further polish expertise. Sections of the book include a thorough introduction on epidemiology and disease, the current surgical management of melanoma and lymph node dissection, immunotherapy along with drug toxicities and emerging research topics, like RAGE and autotaxin, that have potential therapeutic applications. The chapters in this book explore the most common subtype of melanoma, cutaneous disease, as well as a rare form, acral lentiginous melanoma and even canine tumors. Experts from around the globe contributed chapters, most of which have visual illustrations to depict aspects of disease management and therapy, allowing readers to grasp the advanced concepts presented.