Aspirin May Prevent Melanoma in Postmenopausal Caucasian Women

In contrast to some earlier reports, in this large study, low-dose aspirin seemed to usefully reduce melanoma risk.

Melanoma incidence is increasing, and safe, effective methods of prevention are highly sought. Whether nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) confer any benefit as chemopreventive agents is controversial. A study of 92,125 Caucasian women in the Nurses' Health Study did not find reduced risk for melanoma with NSAID use (Cancer Causes Control 2012; 23:1451), and other large studies showed only marginal benefits or none. Aspirin has been demonstrated to lower the risk for gastric, colorectal, and breast cancers; its role as a preventive agent for melanoma has not been adequately studied.

Using data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI OS), these authors studied the association between NSAID use and cutaneous melan…

Reviewing Author

Jeffrey P. Callen, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board XOMA; Eli Lilly; Celgene

Equity Various trust accounts

Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societies Association of Professors of Dermatology (President-Elect)