On 2014 Apr 11, David Keller commented:

Vitamin D and melatonin for primary prophylaxis of melanoma?

Slominski and Carlson advocate adjuvant therapy with vitamin D and melatonin for every stage of melanoma, and as secondary prophylaxis versus melanoma recurrence. [1] Given the low risk of harm from these supplements, might it be reasonable for persons at high risk of melanoma to consider taking them as primary prophylaxis? An example might be a man with Parkinson disease, associated sildenafil use, a family history of melanoma, and personal history of extensive sun exposure and basal cell carcinomas.

A recent observational study links the use of sildenafil to increased incidence of melanoma, and describes a plausible biological mechanism for this medication side-effect (1). This will be of particular concern to men who have used sildenafil or related phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and who may be at elevated risk of melanoma due to a history of extensive sun exposure, basal or squamous cell skin cancers, Parkinson disease (which causes autonomic erectile dysfunction and is associated with elevated risk of melanoma) or family history of melanoma.

References

1: Slominski AT, Carlson JA. Melanoma resistance: a bright future for academicians and a challenge for patient advocates. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014 Apr;89(4):429-33. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.02.009. PubMed PMID: 24684870; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4050658.

2: Li WQ, Qureshi AA, Robinson KC, Han J. Sildenafil Use and Increased Risk of Incident Melanoma in US Men: A Prospective Cohort Study. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Apr 7. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.594. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24710960.

On 2014 Apr 11, David Keller commented:

Vitamin D and melatonin for primary prophylaxis of melanoma?

Slominski and Carlson advocate adjuvant therapy with vitamin D and melatonin for every stage of melanoma, and as secondary prophylaxis versus melanoma recurrence. [1] Given the low risk of harm from these supplements, might it be reasonable for persons at high risk of melanoma to consider taking them as primary prophylaxis? An example might be a man with Parkinson disease, associated sildenafil use, a family history of melanoma, and personal history of extensive sun exposure and basal cell carcinomas.

A recent observational study links the use of sildenafil to increased incidence of melanoma, and describes a plausible biological mechanism for this medication side-effect (1). This will be of particular concern to men who have used sildenafil or related phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and who may be at elevated risk of melanoma due to a history of extensive sun exposure, basal or squamous cell skin cancers, Parkinson disease (which causes autonomic erectile dysfunction and is associated with elevated risk of melanoma) or family history of melanoma.

References

1: Slominski AT, Carlson JA. Melanoma resistance: a bright future for academicians and a challenge for patient advocates. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014 Apr;89(4):429-33. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.02.009. PubMed PMID: 24684870; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4050658.

2: Li WQ, Qureshi AA, Robinson KC, Han J. Sildenafil Use and Increased Risk of Incident Melanoma in US Men: A Prospective Cohort Study. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Apr 7. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.594. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24710960.