Does Methotrexate Increase Skin Cancer Risk?

Additionally, patients with IBD are frequently treated with thiopurine drugs, such as 6-mercatopurine, in combination with anti-TNF or anti-TNF monotherapy. Although thiopurines did increase the risk of NMSC recurrence in patients with IBD relative to anti-TNF monotherapy, the risk increase was not statistically significant. The authors concluded their paper by suggesting that further long-term studies be performed in patients with IBD to determine whether or not thiopurines and/or anti-TNF increase the risk of NMSC recurrence.

Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.

References

Scott FI, Mamtani R, Brensinger CM, et al. Risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer associated with the use of immunosuppressant and biologic agents in patients with a history of autoimmune disease and nonmelanoma skin cancer. JAMA Dermatol. 2015 Oct 28:e1–e9. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2015.3029. [Epub ahead of print]

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