On 2014 Apr 09, David Keller commented:

Are tadalafil and vardenafil also associated with increased risk of melanoma?

Sildenafil (Viagra) was associated with increased risk of melanoma in this study, and a plausible biological mechanism was proposed to explain this association. Two other closely-related phosphodiesterase inhibitors are widely used: tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra); are these drugs also associated with increased risk of melanoma? One would expect this association to be a class effect.

The results of this study will be of particular concern to men who have used sildenafil and may be at elevated risk of melanoma due to 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.

A recent editorial advocates 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 for melanoma to consider taking them as primary prophylaxis?

Reference

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.

If you find this comment unhelpful, please explain why, to facilitate discussion

On 2014 Apr 09, David Keller commented:

Are tadalafil and vardenafil also associated with increased risk of melanoma?

Sildenafil (Viagra) was associated with increased risk of melanoma in this study, and a plausible biological mechanism was proposed to explain this association. Two other closely-related phosphodiesterase inhibitors are widely used: tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra); are these drugs also associated with increased risk of melanoma? One would expect this association to be a class effect.

The results of this study will be of particular concern to men who have used sildenafil and may be at elevated risk of melanoma due to 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.

A recent editorial advocates 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 for melanoma to consider taking them as primary prophylaxis?

Reference

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.

If you find this comment unhelpful, please explain why, to facilitate discussion