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Berge LAM, Andreassen BK, Stenehjem JS, Heir T, Karlstad Ø, Juzeniene A, Ghiasvand R, Larsen IK, Green AC, Veierød MB, Robsahm TE. Use of Immunomodulating Drugs and Risk of Cutaneous Melanoma: A Nationwide Nested Case-Control Study. Clin Epidemiol 2020; 12:1389-1401. [PMID: 33376408 PMCID: PMC7755337 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s269446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Cutaneous melanoma is among the fastest growing malignancies in Norway and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is the primary environmental risk factor. Immunomodulating drugs can increase skin photosensitivity and suppress immune responses, and by such mechanisms influence melanoma risk. We, therefore, aimed to examine the associations between use of immunomodulating drugs and melanoma risk, at a nationwide population level. Patients and Methods In the Cancer Registry of Norway, we identified all cases aged 18-85 with a first primary cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in 2007-2015 (n=12,106). These were matched to population controls from the Norwegian National Registry 1:10 (n=118,564), on sex and year of birth using risk set sampling. Information on prescribed drugs (2004-2015) was obtained by linkage to the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD). Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between use of immunomodulating drugs (immunosuppressants and corticosteroids) and melanoma risk, adjusted for ambient UVR and other drug use. Results Compared with ≤1 prescription, use of ≥8 prescriptions of immunosuppressants was associated with increased risk of melanoma (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.27, 1.77). Similar associations were found for subgroups of immunosuppressants: drugs typically prescribed to organ transplant recipients (OTRs) (RR 2.02, 95% CI 1.35, 3.03) and methotrexate (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04, 1.55). Similar results were found for high levels of cumulative doses and across all histological subtypes. Use of corticosteroids was not associated with melanoma risk. Conclusion We found a positive association between use of immunosuppressants and melanoma risk, with the highest risk seen for drugs prescribed to OTRs. Knowledge about this risk increase is important for physicians and users of these drugs, for intensified surveillance, awareness and cautious sun exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Alexander Mclaren Berge
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway.,Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Jo Steinson Stenehjem
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway.,Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trond Heir
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Oslo Ischemia Study, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Øystein Karlstad
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Ageing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Asta Juzeniene
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Reza Ghiasvand
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway.,Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Adele C Green
- Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,Molecular Oncology Unit, CRUK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Marit Bragelien Veierød
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trude Eid Robsahm
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway.,Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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