Statin Use May Decrease Risk of Melanoma

Reza Ghiasvand and others, Statin use and risk of cutaneous melanoma: a nationwide nested case–control study, British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 188, Issue 6, June 2023, Pages 805–807, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljad057.

Linear risk reduction found between higher cumulative dose of statins and development of melanoma

Clinical Pearls

• Nested case-control study linking two databases from Norway involving 2,685 statin users and 26,886 controls

• Linear risk reduction found between higher cumulative dose of statins and development of melanoma

• Statin use associated with decreased risk of head/neck and lower limb melanomas

Discussion:

Prior studies have shown that statins may have chemoprotective effects against melanoma. However, as the authors of this case-control study recognize, many of these past studies have conflicting results. Thus, the authors sought to better investigate the risk between statin use and melanoma risk.

Using the Cancer Registry of Norway and the Norwegian Prescription Database, the authors linked information to recognized Norwegians diagnosed with a first primary invasive melanoma between 2007-2015 in adults aged 18-85 years old. For each case recognized, 10 controls with no cancer hx at date of melanoma diagnosis were selected. Additionally, the authors used these databases to identify Norwegians who were prescribed statins as well as the defined daily dose of each statin from 2004-2015.

The authors found statin use was associated with decreased melanoma risk in women (RR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85-0.99). Additionally, a linear risk reduction was found between higher cumulative statin dose and melanoma risk, with the lowest risk in the highest quartile of dose received (RR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.96). Interestingly, when considering anatomic location of melanoma, statin use was associated with decreased risk of head & neck and lower limb melanomas [ (RR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67-0.91) and (RR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.79-0.99).

Overall, this study provides valuable data to better understand the relationship between statin use and risk of melanoma. Future studies may expand on this by also controlling for UVR exposure and socioeconomic factors.