Does Narrowband UV-B Therapy Increase Risk for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer?
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2020
According to research published in JAMA Dermatology, the long-term use of narrowband ultraviolet B (UV-B) phototherapy by patients with vitiligo did not result in an increased risk for non-melanoma skin cancer or Bowen’s disease. There was also no apparent association between the therapy and an increased risk for melanoma, though some patients saw an increase in the risk for actinic keratosis.
“Our data suggested that narrowband UV-B phototherapy appears to be safe for patients with vitiligo in terms of the development of skin cancer,” concluded Jung Min Bae, MD, PhD, of The Catholic University of Korea, and colleagues.
The nationwide retrospective study included 60,321 patients aged 20 years or older who had been treated for vitiligo between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2017. Patients were stratified by the number of phototherapy sessions received: 0 (n = 20,105), 1–49 (n = 20,106), 50–99 (n = 9,702), 100–199 (6,226), and ≥ 200 (n = 4,182).
Phototherapy did not increase the risk for non-melanoma skin cancer (< 50 sessions: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.914; 50–99 sessions: HR = 0.765; 100–199 sessions: HR = 0.960; ≥ 200 sessions: HR = 0.905) or Bowen’s disease (< 50 sessions of phototherapy: HR = 0.289; 50–99 sessions: HR = 0.603; 100–199 sessions: HR = 1.273; ≥ 200 sessions: HR = 1.021). The 717 patients who had experienced the highest number of exposures (≥ 500) had the same risk for non-melanoma skin cancer as those who underwent no narrowband UV-B phototherapy (HR = not applicable).
Similarly, the risk for melanoma skin cancers also did not increase after phototherapy for any exposure group. However, patients who had undergone at least 200 sessions had an increased risk for actinic keratosis (HR = 2.269).
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit jamanetwork.com.
