- Recommendation ID
- NG14/10
- Question
The effect of drug therapy for concurrent conditions on melanoma survival: In people diagnosed with melanoma what is the effect of drug therapy to treat concurrent conditions on disease specific survival?
This should be investigated in a national prospective cohort study. Secondary outcomes should include overall survival and quality of life.
- Any explanatory notes
(if applicable) Drugs such as immunosuppressants and those used to treat conditions such as diabetes have effects that may affect survival in people with melanoma. For example, metformin, the most frequently prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, is thought to reduce overall cancer rates in people with diabetes but to increase mortality from melanoma in approximately 40% of these people who have a somatic BRAF mutation.
There is a need to balance the risk of melanoma deaths with the benefits from the most effective treatment of the concurrent conditions. But there is currently no evidence to inform this decision.
Source guidance details
- Comes from guidance
- Melanoma: assessment and management
- Number
- NG14
- Date issued
- July 2015
Other details
| Is this a recommendation for the use of a technology only in the context of research? | No |
| Is it a recommendation that suggests collection of data or the establishment of a register? | No |
| Last Reviewed | 31/07/2022 |