Risk of malignant melanoma in men with prostate cancer: Nationwide, population-based cohort study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• An elevated risk of malignant melanoma has been noted in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Shared risk factors or confounding variables may underlie this observed association.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the risk of melanoma in men with prostate cancer.
• To identify potential shared or confounding risk factors, including tumor characteristics and socioeconomic status.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a cohort of men with prostate cancer and a comparison cohort without prostate cancer using The Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden.
• Utilized nationwide registers for data on prostate cancer risk, melanoma stage, basal cell carcinoma, residency, and socioeconomic status.
• Employed multivariable Cox regression models to assess risk associations.

Main Results:

• Men with prostate cancer exhibited a significantly increased risk of melanoma (HR 1.18).
• Increased melanoma risk was also linked to marriage, high education, high income, and southern Sweden residency.
• Strongest associations for early-stage melanoma (Stage 0) were found in men with low-risk prostate cancer, high education, and high income.
• No association was observed between these factors and late-stage melanoma.
• Men with prostate cancer also had an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma (HR 1.18).

Conclusions:

• Men with low-risk prostate cancer, high education, high income, and residing in southern Sweden face an increased risk of early-stage melanoma.
• These findings highlight specific demographic and clinical factors associated with heightened melanoma risk in prostate cancer patients.