Cirugia bariátrica y cancer de piel

Bariatric Surgery Associated with Lower Risk for Skin Cancer

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM

Obese adults who undergo bariatric surgery may experience an unexpected benefit — a reduced risk for skin cancer — according to a prospective study in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers in Sweden matched some 2000 obese adults who chose bariatric surgery with 2000 who chose nonsurgical treatment. During a median follow-up of 18 years, there were 11 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases and 12 melanoma cases among surgery patients, versus 16 and 29, respectively, among controls. After multivariable adjustment, surgery patients had a 41% lower risk for skin cancer overall and 57% lower risk for melanoma, while the risk reduction for SCC alone was not significant. (Of note, skin cancer was not a prespecified study outcome.)

The authors propose several possible explanations for the association, including the role of leptin receptors on melanoma cells.

The researchers write, "Bariatric surgery should not be viewed as a public health intervention specific to skin cancer. Instead, these findings give additional support for an association between obesity and skin cancer and for an association between weight loss and reduced cancer incidence."

JAMA Dermatology article (Free abstract)

Background: NEJM Journal Watch Women's Health earlier coverage of cancer outcomes in this study cohort (Free)

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Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock
Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

Clinica Victoria en San Pedro: 4000-1054
Momentum Escazu: 2101-9574

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