title: Correlation between fertility drugs use and malignant melanoma incidence: the state of the art.
abstract: The relationship between fertility, reproductive hormones, and risk of malignant melanoma has acquired much interest in recent years. Melanocytes are hormonally responsive cells, and some in vitro studies demonstrated that estrogen hormones stimulate the growth of melanocytes. Moreover, estrogen receptors have been identified in melanoma cells, as well as in melanocytic nevi and in normal skin. Some evidences suggest a possible link between fertility treatments and the increased risk of malignant melanoma. This article addresses this association through a scrupulous search of the literature published thus far. The aim of this review is to determine the incidence of malignant melanoma in women treated with fertility drugs and to examine if the exposure to fertility treatments really increases the risk of malignant melanoma. In particular, our analysis focused on the different types of drugs and different treatment schedules used. Finally, this study provides additional insights regarding the long-term relationships between fertility drugs and the risk of malignant melanoma.
authors: Department of Gynaecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, Rome, 00161, Italy, federica.tomao@uniroma1.it.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Tomao
authors: Anselmo
authors: A
authors: Papa
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Lo Russo
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Zuber
authors: Gian Paolo
authors: GP
authors: Spinelli
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Rossi
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Caruso
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Prinzi
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Stati
authors: Pierluigi
authors: P
authors: Benedetti Panici
authors: Silverio
authors: S
authors: Tomao
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008545:Melanoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female