Research Underway

Vitamin D, sun exposure and genes in the cause and control of the common keratinocyte cancers of the skin

Investigators: 

Professor Bruce Armstrong (PI), Associate Professor Emily Banks, Dr Mark Clements, Dr Anne Kricker, Professor Rebecca Mason, Professor Juergen Reichhardt, and Professor Markus Seibel

Project aim(s): 

This project will examine the causes and control of the common keratinocyte cancers of the skin in humans (basal cell (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)). Specifically, the project has four major aims:

  • To obtain new and more accurate quantitative information on the relationship between sun exposure, diet and serum vitamin D and related measures of vitamin D sufficiency
  • To obtain new and more accurate quantitative information on the relationship between sun exposure and keratinocyte cancer, which can be used in sophisticated quantitative modelling of benefits and harms of sun exposure
  • To document the relationship between vitamin D and risk of keratinocyte cancer and its interaction with sun exposure and phenotypic and genotypic measures of sun sensitivity

  • Provide the basis for a subsequent study of the contributions that lifetime and continuing sun exposure, sun sensitivity and measured levels of vitamin D make to risk of a second keratinocyte cancer in those who have already had one such cancer.

Project status: 

Application approved February 2007

Awaiting funding

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