Common painkillers may help prevent skin cancer: study - China Mini ITX Mainboards

NSAIDs also include prescription medicines called COX-2enzyme inhibitors, such as Celebrex (celecoxib). "Our study showed that users of common painkillers, known asNSAIDs, have a lower risk of the three major types of skin cancer,[including] malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamouscell carcinoma," said study lead author, Sigrun AlbaJohannesdottir, at the department of clinical epidemiology atAarhus University Hospital in Aarhus, Denmark. "The greatest effect," she noted, "was found for squamous cellcarcinomas and malignant melanoma, especially when [thesepainkillers were] taken frequently and over a long time period." The study appears in the May 29 online issue of the journal Cancer . The authors noted that prior work supported the notion that NSAIDsmay offer some measure of protection against cancer (most notablycolorectal cancer), by specifically impeding the cancer-causingactivities of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase) enzymes.

However, the team suggested that past investigations into howNSAIDs may affect skin cancer risk, in particular, had key designproblems that undercut efforts to nail down any NSAID-skin cancerconnection. For the new study, the researchers analyzed prescription databasesand health information registries including the Danish CancerRegistry and the Danish Civil Registration System. The team focused on diagnostic and death records concerning nearly2,000 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, about 13,300 cases of basalcell carcinoma and nearly 3,250 cases of malignant melanomadiagnosed between 1991 and 2009 when the patients were at least 20years old. In turn, prescription histories were gathered for both the cancerpatient group and almost 179,000 healthy Danes.

Records covered theuse of both low- and high-dose aspirin (ranging from 75 milligramsto 500 milligrams), so-called "nonselective" NSAIDs (such asibuprofen [Advil] and naproxen [Aleve]), and both older and newertypes of COX-2 inhibitors. Researchers noted the number ofprescriptions issued per patient and their length of use, withshort-term use defined as fewer than seven years. The result: The relative risk for squamous cell carcinoma was foundto have dropped by 15 percent among those Danes who had filled morethan two NSAID prescriptions, compared to those who had filled twoor less. Similarly, malignant melanoma risk fell by nearly as much (13percent) among those filling more than two NSAID prescriptions. However, the same dynamic was generally not seen with regards to basal cell carcinoma.

But taking NSAIDs forlong periods of time, and at relatively high doses, was associated with a reduced risk (between 15 and 21 percent),specifically for basal cell cases that manifested in skin regionsthat typically experience relatively little sun exposure (areasother than the neck or head). On that front, long-term users and those who took NSAIDs atrelatively higher doses appeared to benefit from the strongestprotective effect, suggesting that when it comes to skin cancerrisk reduction, more NSAID use is better. The researchers pointed out that the NSAID-cancer connection couldbe affected by a range of lifestyle factors they did not accountfor, such as an individual's specific skin type or sun exposurepatterns. But Johannesdottir added that "we hope that our finding willinspire more research on skin cancer prevention. Also, thepotential cancer-protective effect should be taken into accountwhen discussing benefits and harms of NSAID use," she noted.

However, "other studies need to detail the association further andto examine benefits versus risks," she cautioned. "Meanwhile, themost important prevention against skin cancer remains sunprotection." Meanwhile, Dr. William Ting, a private practice dermatologist inSan Ramon, Calif., praised the study despite agreeing that manyfactors are at play when it comes to skin cancer formation. "Now we have a better understanding that inflammation also plays asignificant role in cancer formation and even skin cancers," hesaid.

And, "this exciting article gives physicians and consumers arelatively simple way of diminishing one's risk of skin cancer bydoing what most of us are doing already for heart health," Tingadded. Ting also advised that people consult with their doctorbefore starting on any blood thinner. While the study found an association between skin cancer risk andNSAIDs, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. More information For more on NSAIDs and cancer, visit the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

SOURCES: Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir, department of clinicalepidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; WilliamTing, M.D., F.A.A.D., private practice dermatologist, AdvancedDermatology Care, San Ramon, Calif.; May 29, 2012, Cancer , online Copyright © 2012 HealthDay . All rights reserved.

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