Melanoma and Parkinson: What’s the Connection?

Patients with melanoma face an increased risk of developing Parkinson disease (PD), according to a recent study. Conversely, patients with PD have a higher risk of melanoma.

The study consisted of 2 phases. During phase 1, the researchers identified patients with PD (n = 974) from the Rochester Epidemiology Project in Olmsted Country, Minnesota, from January 1976 to December 2013, and compared them with 3 matched controls per case. JMP statistical software with logistic regression analysis was later used to determine risk of pre-existing melanoma in patients with PD, compared with healthy controls.
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During phase 2 of the study, the researchers identified all cases of melanoma (n = 1544) in the Rochester Epidemiology Project database, and compared them with 1 control per case. Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the risk of developing PD after each case’s index date, compared with controls. Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to assess the 35-year cumulative risk of PD, and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the risk of mortality from metastatic melanoma in melanoma patients with PD, compared with melanoma patients without PD.

Results from phase I showed that PD patients had a 3.8-times greater risk of having pre-existing melanoma, compared with controls. Phase II results indicated that melanoma patients had a 4.2-fold greater risk of developing PD. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, melanoma patients (11.8%) had an increased 35-year risk cumulative risk of PD, compared with controls (2.6%). Melanoma patients without PD had a 10.5-fold greater relative risk of mortality from metastatic melanoma vs melanoma patients with PD.

“There appears to be an association between melanoma and PD,” the researchers concluded. “Further study is warranted; but on the basis of these results, physicians may consider counseling patients with melanoma about PD risk and implementing cutaneous and ocular melanoma surveillance in patients with PD.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Dalvin LA, Damento GM, Yawn BP, Abbott BA, Hodge DO, Pulido JS. Parkinson disease and melanoma. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2017;92(7):1070-1079. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.03.014.