Evaluation of the Smoking Exposure Effects on Carcinogenesis Markers According to the Localization of Melanocytic Lesions

Melanoma is considered to be the most lethal skin cancer, and smoking is one of the most important public health issues, but its potential carcinogenic role in melanoma is still discussed. Our study aims to determine whether direct tobacco smoke exposure has an impact on melanocytic lesions regarding atypia and proliferation by analysing three markers of interest: DNA ploidy index, MCM6 and the α5-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRNA5). 90 patients with surgically removed melanocytic lesions were selected. Their smoking exposure data were collected. The expression of all three markers was analysed in lesions directly exposed to tobacco smoke and compared with lesions protected from exogen contact. No difference was found between lesions chronically exposed to smoke and those protected. In the smoker group, CHRNA5 expression (p = 0.25) and MCM6 expression (p = 0.24) were not statistically different depending on the location of lesions. There was also no difference in the DNA ploidy index (p = 0.3). Therefore, tobacco smoke does not seem to have an impact on CHRNA5 expression, proliferation and atypia markers in melanocytic lesions.