Reply to Finasteride and Dutasteride May Reduce Melanoma Risk

A study has found that finasteride and dutasteride, drugs used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, may reduce the risk of melanoma following prostate cancer. The study suggests that melanoma is an androgen-dependent tumor, and that androgen blockade enhances response to the melanoma vaccine. The study also found that a personal history of prostate cancer increases the risk of melanoma. Another study reported a significant association between severe teenage acne and an increased risk of melanoma, independent of known risk factors for melanoma. The authors suggest that a history of teenage acne may be an early-stage marker of high androgen levels, which could contribute to the observed risk of melanoma. The potential androgen basis of melanoma has long been hypothesized. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that mediate these observations and to develop interventions that may modulate melanoma incidence or prognosis.