Alessio Gambardella1,2, Gaetano Licata1,2, Alina De Rosa1,2, Giulia Calabrese1,2, Roberto Alfano1,2, Giuseppe Argenziano1,2. 1. Drs. Gambardella, Licata, De Rosa, Calabrese, Argenziano are with the Dermatology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Naples, Italy. 2. Dr. Alfano is with the Department of Anesthesiology, Surgery and Emergency at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Naples, Italy.
Abstract
Background: Recently it has been reported that apremilast might promote melanogenesis and it would therefore not be safe to use this drug in patients with psoriasis who have a history of melanoma. Methods: From January 2017 to December 2020, we retrospectively identified, within a cohort of 635 patients in follow-up care for melanoma, 16 cases of patients with psoriasis treated with apremilast and history of melanoma. Patients were monitored at our unit for a mean duration of 36 months of follow up. Results: The use of apremilast, in our case series was, thus, effective in managing psoriasis without causing recurrence of previous melanoma or any new suspicious lesions which would need removal. Discussion: It has been speculated that apremilast might not be safe in patients who have a history of melanoma as it would be involved in the stimulation of melanogenesis and consequent possibility of recurrence of previous melanoma. Conclusion: Our data show that none of the patients treated with apremilast developed recurrence of melanoma at 36 months of follow-up. Further studies are necessary to confirm the safety of apremilast in a larger number of patients with concurrent malignancies, specifically melanoma, and for a longer follow-up period.
Background: Recently it has been reported that apremilast might promote melanogenesis and it would therefore not be safe to use this drug in patients with psoriasis who have a history of melanoma. Methods: From January 2017 to December 2020, we retrospectively identified, within a cohort of 635 patients in follow-up care for melanoma, 16 cases of patients with psoriasis treated with apremilast and history of melanoma. Patients were monitored at our unit for a mean duration of 36 months of follow up. Results: The use of apremilast, in our case series was, thus, effective in managing psoriasis without causing recurrence of previous melanoma or any new suspicious lesions which would need removal. Discussion: It has been speculated that apremilast might not be safe in patients who have a history of melanoma as it would be involved in the stimulation of melanogenesis and consequent possibility of recurrence of previous melanoma. Conclusion: Our data show that none of the patients treated with apremilast developed recurrence of melanoma at 36 months of follow-up. Further studies are necessary to confirm the safety of apremilast in a larger number of patients with concurrent malignancies, specifically melanoma, and for a longer follow-up period.
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