AACR II: Does Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor Use Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer?
Posted: Thursday, July 2, 2020
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor use does not appear to be associated with a reduced risk of skin cancer, according to a recent study presented during the 2020 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting II (Abstract 3491). In fact, Hsuan Yen, MD, MPH, of the Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, and colleagues suggested that such treatment may be associated with a modestly increased risk for basal cell and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, but further investigation is needed to confirm these findings.
“Cyclooxygenase enzymes are involved in prostaglandin synthesis, playing important roles in the inhibition of apoptosis, stimulation of cell proliferation, and production of free radicals,” the investigators remarked. “[The] COX-2 inhibitor has been associated with [a] lower risk of several cancers, but epidemiologic studies on skin cancer risk have been limited and inconclusive.”
This analysis compiled data from three prospective cohorts, including 121,700 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), 116,430 women from NHS II, and 51,529 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, to investigate the relationship between COX-2 inhibitor use and risk for basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. To assess COX-2 inhibitor use and duration, the patients completed biennial questionnaires. Pathologic records were consulted to verify the diagnoses of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
According to the investigators, COX-2 use seemed to be associated with an increased risk for basal cell carcinoma (hazard ratio = 1.10) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (hazard ratio = 1.12). The association with melanoma did not reach statistical significance, though the effect estimate was similar (hazard ratio = 1.10).
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit www.aacr.org.
