[Medical Q&A] Can psoriasis treatment drugs induce cancer?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Zhu Minggang, Chief Physician, Jiashan County First People's Hospital, Zhejiang Province

Some psoriasis medications may increase cancer risk.

Studies have found that the following drugs may increase patients' cancer risk and their specific usage should be based on doctor's advice.

(1) Methotrexate: Patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with methotrexate have an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

(2) Cyclosporine: The risk of skin cancer in psoriasis patients who received cyclosporine treatment for more than 2 years increased by 2.1 times, but the risk of skin cancer did not increase when it was used continuously for less than 6 months or intermittently for less than 2 years.

(3) Tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors: Patients treated with them have an increased risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer.

(4) Coal tar: Psoriasis patients who receive coal tar treatment are at risk of cancer.

(5) JAK inhibitors: Patients receiving their treatment may have an increased risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer. The expert group recommends regular skin examinations.