Cutaneous melanoma in relation to exogenous hormones and reproductive factors
Holly, E.A.; Weiss, N.S.; Liff, J.M.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 70(5): 827-831
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-8874 PMID: 6573527 Document Number: 200579
Women (87) of ages 37-74 yr who resided in King County, Washington, USA and who had been diagnosed between July 1976 and Nov. 1979 as having cutaneous malignant melanoma were interviewed regarding prior use of estrogen-containing preparations and reproductive history. The responses were compared with those of a random sample of 863 women from the same county. Among the 61 women with superficial spreading melanoma (SSM), use of oral contraceptives for 5 yr or more was more common than among controls. The estimated relative risks of users of 5-9 and 10 yr or more were 2.4 and 3.6, respectively. No differences between cases and controls were noted for oral contraceptive use of 4 yr or less. Giving birth to a 1st child after age 30 yr was also associated with an increased relative risk of SSM. Although the positive findings regarding oral contraceptive use and age at birth of 1st child must be interpreted cautiously pending results of other studies, they suggest that hormonal factors can play a role in the etiology of SSM.