Psoriasis and Risks of Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Posted: Friday, April 23, 2021
A study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology showed that biologic therapy for moderate to severe psoriasis does not appear to be associated with a future diagnosis of basal or squamous cell carcinoma. A.D. Ormerod, MD, of Aberdeen University, United Kingdom, and colleagues commented in a letter to the editor: “Since a history of previous basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma is by far the strongest predictor of future basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and shown in our British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register cohorts, these patients require ongoing surveillance and advice about sun protection, notwithstanding therapy for psoriasis.”
The authors determined that patients were eligible for the study if they were diagnosed with chronic plaque psoriasis and were biologic therapy–naive. A total of 267 patients with a history of basal or squamous cell carcinoma were included in the study, and 14,800 patients were analyzed for first incidence of basal or squamous cell carcinoma.
The group found patients with a prior diagnosis of basal or squamous cell carcinoma were older, had a longer duration of psoriasis, and had been treated with acitretin (46% vs. 37%) or PUVA (combination of psoralens and ultraviolet radiation; 36% vs. 24%). Notably, a large difference in the prescription of acitretin at registration and previous treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B was observed between patients with a previous diagnosis of squamous or basal cell carcinomas and those who had no such history.
A total of 32 patients with previous basal or squamous cell carcinoma developed another incident of basal cell carcinoma, and 28 patients developed an incident of squamous cell carcinoma. Analysis of biologic therapy and basal or squamous cell carcinoma revealed no association.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit wiley.com.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology
