Serological precursors of cancer: malignant melanoma, basal and squamous cell skin cancer, and prediagnostic levels of retinol, beta- carotene, lycopene, alpha-tocopherol, and selenium.

To determine the association between prediagnostic serum levels of retinol, beta-carotene, lycopene, alpha-tocopherol, and selenium and the subsequent risk of malignant melanoma, and basal and squamous cell skin cancer, a nested case-control study among residents of Washington County, MD, was performed. Cases with melanoma (n = 30), basal cell (n = 32), and squamous cell (n = 37) skin cancer who were admitted to hospital for treatment or biopsy of metastatic lesions were each matched by age, sex, and race with two controls. There were no significant associations between serum micronutrient levels and the risk of subsequent skin cancer.