Increased Risk of Subsequent Primary Malignancies in Melanoma versus Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Patients
Description
This population-based cohort study performed utilizing the TriNetX database compares the risk of subsequent primary malignancies in patients diagnosed with melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer, including basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. A case cohort was identified using ICD-10-CM codes for melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as 11 of the most common primary malignancies as defined by the American Cancer Society. These included breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, bladder, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney, uterine, leukemia, pancreas, and thyroid cancer. A total of 130,526 melanoma patients and 130,526 non-melanoma skin cancer patients were identified after propensity score matching for demographics. The adjusted risk ratios revealed that melanoma patients had a significantly increased risk of developing breast, prostate, lung, kidney, pancreatic, and thyroid cancer compared to NMSC patients. No significant differences were found in the risk of developing colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or leukemia between the two groups. Overall, this TriNetX database study underscores the importance of tailored cancer surveillance, particularly for breast, prostate, lung, kidney, pancreatic, and thyroid cancer in melanoma survivors. Future research should focus on exploring the mechanisms behind the differential cancer risks observed in this study and refining screening strategies for higher-risk populations.