Exogenous hormone use and cutaneous melanoma risk in women: The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

Source: MDLinx, November 2019

Among women enrolled in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, a prospective cohort analysis started in 1992 in 10 European countries, researchers investigated the links between the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and melanoma risk. A total of 334,483 women with 1,696 melanoma cases were identified over 1992–2015, including 134,758 postmenopausal women with 770 cases. A positive, borderline-significant link between OC use and melanoma risk was observed, with no identified heterogeneity across countries. With the duration of use, a linear rise in this risk was noted.