Viagra Use Tied to Melanoma Risk

 A new study provides preliminary evidence that the use of sildenafil (Viagra) may be connected to a greater risk of developing melanoma.

In a retrospective study, a team of investigators including researchers from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital analyzed data from 25,848 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, finding that those who had recently used sildenafil were at nearly twice the risk of developing melanoma after an adjustment for other risk factors. Men who had used sildenafil at any time faced a similarly increased risk.
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Study authors note, however, that no association was found between erectile function by itself and melanoma. Occurrences of skin cancers, including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) were obtained in self-reported questionnaires on a biennial basis. The diagnosis of melanoma and SCC was pathologically confirmed.

Overall, the authors identified 142 melanoma cases, 580 incidences of squamous cell carcinoma, and 3,030 basal cell carcinoma cases during a 10-year follow-up period (the years 2000 to 2010). In addition, a secondary analysis, which excluded those reporting major chronic diseases at baseline, did not significantly change the findings. The higher risk of melanoma was 2.24 for sildenafil use at baseline, and 2.77 for use at any time.

The investigators point out that the study findings—like all observational studies—do not demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship. The researchers also note that they “support a need for continued investigation of this association,” and caution that the findings “should be interpreted cautiously, and are insufficient to alter current clinical recommendations.”

—Mark McGraw

Reference

Qing L W, Qureshi A, et al. Sildenafil Use and Increased Risk of Incident Melanoma in US MenA Prospective Cohort Study. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2014.