Post-diagnosis aspirin use and overall survival in patients with melanoma

Publication date: Available online 6 January 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Saleh Rachidi, Kristin Wallace, Hong Li, Tim Lautenschlaeger, Zihai Li
BackgroundMouse studies show that tumor-derived prostaglandins and platelets promote melanoma progression and immune-evasion.ObjectiveDetermine if aspirin confers longer survival in patients with melanoma.MethsodsA retrospective cohort study of 1,522 patients at Indiana University Health (IUH) diagnosed with melanoma between 2000 and 2014 and followed up through September, 2016.ResultsAspirin use was associated with longer overall survival in univariate analysis and after controlling for age, sex, stage, and treatment modalities (HR 0.58, 95% CI [0.45-0.75]). Aspirin use was not associated with survival in patients with in situ and stage I melanoma, but was associated with better survival in stages II (HR 0.45, 95% CI [0.24-0.82]) and III (HR 0.57, 95% CI [0.34-0.96]). No statistical significance was observed in stage IV patients (HR 0.55, 95% CI [0.27-1.13]). In turn, patients using aspirin before diagnosis were less likely to be diagnosed in stages III or IV disease.LimitationsObservational study.ConclusionsAspirin could provide a survival advantage in melanoma. Clinical trials investigating the therapeutic potential of aspirin are warranted.