Background
Numerous epidemiologic studies have examined the relation of physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness to risk of cutaneous melanoma but the available evidence has not yet been quantified in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods
Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), we identified 3 cohort studies (N = 12,605 cases) and 5 case-control studies (N = 1,295 cases) of physical activity and melanoma incidence, and one cohort study (N = 49 cases) of cardiorespiratory fitness and melanoma risk.

Results
Cohort studies revealed a statistically significant positive association between high versus low physical activity and melanoma risk (RR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.16–1.40). In contrast, case-control studies yielded a statistically non-significant inverse risk estimate for physical activity and melanoma (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.63–1.14; P-difference = 0.02). The only available cohort study of cardiorespiratory fitness and melanoma risk reported a positive but statistically not significant association between the two (RR = 2.19, 95% CI = 0.99–4.96). Potential confounding by ultraviolet (UV) radiation-related risk factors was a major concern in cohort but not case-control studies.

Conclusions
It appears plausible that the positive relation of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness to melanoma observed in cohort studies is due to residual confounding by UV radiation-related risk factors.

Impact
Future prospective studies need to examine the association between physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and melanoma after detailed adjustment for UV radiation-related skin damage.