Contrary to previous hypotheses, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) does not appear associated with risk of squamous cell skin cancer, according to a new report.
Laboratory studies of cells and animals have indicated that NSAIDs protect against squamous cell carcinomas. However, while some studies have examined the associations between NSAIDs and other types of cancers – including colorectal, breast, prostate and lung – few studies have assessed the association between NSAID use and squamous cell carcinoma risk in human populations.
Doctors studied 415 patients who were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in 2004 and 415 control patients who were the same age, sex and race but had no history of skin cancer. Participants completed a questionnaire about NSAID use in the ten years prior.
The majority of participants reported regular use of NSAIDs within the previous ten years, including 48 per cent who used aspirin, 18 per cent who used ibuprofen, 5 per cent who used naproxen and 4 per cent who used nabumetone.
“Regular use of any NSAID was not associated with a reduction in squamous cell carcinoma risk,” the study’s authors reported. “Although NSAID users whose exposure was of short duration (one to three years) appeared to be at somewhat increased risk for squamous cell carcinoma, we found no consistent effects of duration of use of any NSAID on squamous cell carcinoma risk.”
Squamous cell carcinoma risk also did not appear to change regardless of NSAID dose, whether the medications were administered by a pharmacy nor with any individual type of NSAID medication, the doctors found.
Archives of Dermatology 2010;146:388-395
About Greg Baxter
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