Effect of ethnicity on the risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer following long-term PUVA therapy.
BACKGROUND
Research demonstrating an increased incidence of skin cancer with psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy has reflected the Caucasian experience. Our objective was to review the literature on skin cancer risk associated with long-term PUVA therapy in non-Caucasians.


METHODS
Our analysis included 4,294 long-term PUVA patients in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Egypt, and Tunisia with a follow-up period of at least 5 years.


RESULTS
The relative risk of PUVA patients developing nonmelanoma skin cancer relative to general dermatology outpatients was 0.86 [CI 0.36-1.35].


CONCLUSIONS
There does not appear to be an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer with long-term PUVA therapy in Asian and Arabian-African populations. Therefore, in phototherapy risk assessment, it is important to consider the patient's skin phototype and the potential protection that more pigmented skin may confer.
Murase
Jenny E
JE
Department of Dermatology, University of California Irvine, CA, USA.
Lee
Ernest E
EE
Koo
John
J
D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*