Use of Topical Sunscreens and the Risk of Malignant Melanoma: A Meta-Analysis of 9067 Patients From 11 CaseControl Studies
Michael Huncharek, MD, MPH and
Bruce Kupelnick, BA
Michael Huncharek is with the Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Clinical Oncology, Marshfield Clinic Cancer Center, Marshfield, Wis; the Meta-Analysis Research Group, Stevens Point, Wis; and St. Michael's Hospital Cancer Center, Stevens Point. Bruce Kupelnick is with the Meta-Analysis Research Group, Stevens Point.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Michael Huncharek, MD, MPH, FACA, Director, Meta-Analysis Research Group, 2740 Sunset Blvd, Stevens Point, WI 54481 (e-mail: metaresearch{at}hotmail.com).
Objectives. This study examined the methodology of epidemiologicalstudies that suggest use of topical sunscreen preparations isassociated with increased risk of malignant melanoma.
Methods. We pooled data from observational studies using a generalvariancebased meta-analytic method that employed confidenceintervals (previously described). The outcome of interest wasa summary relative risk (RR) reflecting the risk of melanomaassociated with sunscreen use versus nonuse. Sensitivity analyseswere performed when necessary to explain any observed statisticalheterogeneity.
Results. Combining studies that used nonheterogeneous data yieldeda summary RR of 1.01, indicating no association between sunscreenuse and development of malignant melanoma.
Conclusions. The available epidemiological data do not supportthe existence of a relationship between topical sunscreen useand an increased risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma. (Am JPublic Health. 2002;92:11731177)
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