COX-2 inhibitors show no preventive effect in the development of skin cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Some clinical trials found that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor use lowered the risk of skin cancer in high-risk groups.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

To determine whether COX-2 inhibitor use is associated with lower risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), and melanoma, we analyzed COX-2 inhibitor use and risk of skin cancer based on three prospective cohort studies, the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), NHS II, and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, including 153,882 participants. Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of COX-2 inhibitor use with risk of BCC, cSCC, and melanoma were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. We pooled the results using a fixed effects model.

RESULTS:

16,142 BCC, 1,973 cSCC, and 631 melanoma cases were documented. Ever vs. never use of COX-2 inhibitor was associated with a modestly increased risk of BCC (multivariable HR 1.09, 95 % CI 1.05-1.14). The hazard ratio was similar for cSCC (multivariable HR 1.12, 95 % CI 1.00-1.27) and melanoma (multivariable HR 1.10, 95 % CI 0.89-1.38), but was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS:

Ever use of COX-2 inhibitor was not associated with a decreased skin cancer risk but was instead associated with a modest, increased risk of BCC.

• Authors: Hsuan Yen, Hsi Yen, Aaron M Drucker, Jiali Han, Wen-Qing Li, Tricia Li, Abrar Qureshi, Eunyoung Cho
• Journal: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG (J Dtsch Dermatol Ges) Vol. 20 Issue 2 Pg. 157-166 (02 2022) ISSN: 1610-0387 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 35088518 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2022 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors

Topics

• Carcinoma, Basal Cell (chemically induced, epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (chemically induced, epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Prospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Skin Neoplasms (chemically induced, epidemiology, prevention & control)