Can Viagra Increase Melanoma Risk?

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

Men who use the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil, or Viagra, were 84% more likely to develop melanoma during a 10-year period, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The researchers polled men participating in the Health Professionals' Follow-Up Study about the use of erectile dysfunction drugs in 2000. Results showed that 128 of 29,929 men who reported never using Viagra developed melanoma, whereas 14 of the 1,618 men who reported using Viagra developed melanoma. These numbers indicate that 4.3 per 1,000 men who did not use Viagra developed the disease and 8.6 men who did use the drug developed melanoma, which equates to an 84% increased risk for Viagra users after adjustment. Experts, however, point out that these data do not establish causality. Rather, they demonstrate an association between Viagra and melanoma risk. They also noted that the raw numbers for developing melanoma remained low. As for the connection, one expert stated that it may be coincidence and further investigation is needed. For now, sun protection and routine skin checks are the best way to prevent melanoma, he said.