Psoriasis Tied to Increased Cancer Risk (both associated with Low Vitamin d) - Oct 2019

Psoriasis Tied to Increased Cancer Risk New York Times

• "psoriasis of any degree of severity was associated with an 18 percent increased risk for cancer, and severe psoriasis with a 22 percent increase"
• " Cancer mortality was elevated in all cases of severe psoriasis."
• "severe psoriasis was associated with more than 11 times the risk for squamous cell carcinoma (a skin cancer), about double the risk for esophageal and liver cancer, and a 45 percent increased risk for pancreatic cancer."
  • "The reason for the connection is unclear,"

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Risk of cancer in psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies - 2013

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Aug;27 Suppl 3:36-46. doi: 10.1111/jdv.12165.
Pouplard C1, Brenaut E, Horreau C, Barnetche T, Misery L, Richard MA, Aractingi S, Aubin F, Cribier B, Joly P, Jullien D, Le Maître M, Ortonne JP, Paul C.
Dermatology Department, UMR CNRS 5165, INSERM 1056, Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France.

The relationship between psoriasis and increased cancer risk is debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate if there is an increase in the background risk of cancer in psoriasis patients compared with the general population. A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases, using the keywords 'Psoriasis Majr AND Neoplasms', from 1980 to January 2012. Meta-analysis was performed based on observational studies showing consistency in cancer risk assessment methods. Of the 1080 articles retrieved, 37 references were selected. There may be an increased risk of some solid cancers in psoriasis: respiratory tract cancer [standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35-1.71], upper aerodigestive tract cancer (SIR = 3.05, 95% CI 1.74-5.32), urinary tract cancer (SIR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.11-1.55) and liver cancer (SIR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.48-2.44). The risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma appears slightly increased in psoriasis (SIR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.06-1.86).
Psoriasis patients have an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SIR = 5.3, 95% CI 2.63-10.71) and basal cell carcinoma (SIR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.83-2.20), whereas the risk of melanoma is not increased. There was a large heterogeneity in studies assessing cancer risk in psoriasis preventing from including all studies in meta-analysis. This systematic literature review shows a small increased risk of some solid cancers in psoriasis, especially those linked to alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking. A higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancers, especially squamous cell carcinoma, is shown, mainly due to previous exposure to 8-methoxypsoralen-ultraviolet-A (PUVA), ciclosporin and possibly methotrexate.