Psoriasis may up risk of melanoma, hematologic cancer

(HealthDay)—Patients with psoriasis may have a higher risk of melanoma and hematologic cancers than the general population, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Shivani P. Reddy, from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, and colleagues assessed the risk of melanoma and hematologic cancers in patients with psoriasis.

The researchers found that patients with psoriasis had 1.53 times greater risk of developing a malignancy versus patients without psoriasis (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in risk among patients receiving different treatments (topicals, phototherapy, systemics, or biologic agents). For patients who developed malignancy, survival did not differ among those with or without psoriasis.

"Patients with psoriasis may experience an elevated risk of melanoma and hematologic cancers, compared with the general population," the authors write. "The risk is not increased by systemic or biologic psoriasis therapies."

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.