Ultraviolet B sensitivity of peripheral lymphocytes as an independent risk factor for cutaneous melanoma.

Susceptibility to solar ultraviolet is an important melanoma risk factor. We investigated the relationship between individual susceptibility to ultraviolet and risk of melanoma by measuring the apoptosis triggered in peripheral lymphocytes by a low-dose ultraviolet B irradiation (50 J/m(2)) in young and older melanoma patients and controls. Melanoma patients below the age of 40 are more sensitive to UVB-induced apoptosis than older melanoma patients and healthy controls.