Arthritis drug linked with small melanoma risk

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-09-01 01:00

Australia; VIC

Photo by Eduardo Barrios on Unsplash

Methotrexate, a drug commonly used to treat arthritis, is associated with a small risk of melanoma according to Australian and international researchers. The team analysed 17 methotrexate studies that looked at the rate of melanoma, and say they found a small increased risk of melanoma among those who take the drug. However, they say the increased risk is very small, and they calculated 18,630 people in Australia would need to take methotrexate for one person to be harmed by the melanoma risk.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Dermatology

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Monash University

Funder: Drs Yan andWang are supported by Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships. Dr Mar is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship.

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