Immunosuppressants in the Development of Melanoma

Dr. Lauren A. Dalvin, Director of the Ocular Oncology Service at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, reviews her article appearing in the July 2019 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, which investigated possible associations between TNF-alpha inhibitors and other immunosuppressives and uveal or cutaneous melanoma. She found that TNFa inhibition and autoimmune disease alone did not significantly increase melanoma risk. However, exposure to other immunosuppressive agents or high dose corticosteroids did increase melanoma risk, and she suggests the need for melanoma screening in patients exposed to these medications. Available at: https://mayocl.in/2XivtQy