Abstract
There has been a well-documented association between non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and melanoma as well as non-melanoma skin cancers. In addition, there have been multiple reports documenting aggressive skin cancers in the setting of lymphoma. This article highlights the existing data in regards to the association between non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the common forms of skin cancer. Patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia who subsequently develop non-melanoma skin cancer have worse outcomes demonstrated by increased rates of local recurrence, regional metastasis and death. Similarly, patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia who subsequently develop melanoma have demonstrated trends towards worse outcomes, including a possible increased risk towards recurrence, metastasis and melanoma-specific mortality. Common forms of skin cancer may share genetic aberrations with lymphoma, which may be one of the reasons behind the causal relationship that has been documented between these two forms of malignancy. These commonly shared genetic aberrations may also contribute to the increased aggressiveness seen in lymphoma-associated skin cancer. Patients who have lymphoma-associated skin cancer should undergo aggressive treatment approaches to decrease the chances of recurrence and skin cancer-associated morbidity and mortality. Preventive strategies, such as early detection, sun-protective behavior, frequent dermatologic examinations and education directed toward the patient with lymphoma, may not only prevent the development of aggressive skin cancer, but also have a higher rate of successfully treating early forms of skin cancer in this high-risk patient population.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
Jerry D Brewer is a Dermatology Foundation Career Development Award recipient for the study of lymphoma-associated skin cancer. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.