Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and the risk of skin cancer among patients with type 2 diabetes: a UK population-based cohort study

INTRODUCTION: The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) enzyme significantly influences carcinogenic pathways in the skin.

The objective of this study was to determine whether DPP-4 inhibitors are associated with the incidence of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer, compared with sulfonylureas.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we assembled two new-user active comparator cohorts for each skin cancer outcome from 2007 to 2019.

For melanoma, the cohort included 96 739 DPP-4 inhibitor users and 209 341 sulfonylurea users, and 96 411 DPP-4 inhibitor users and 208 626 sulfonylurea users for non-melanoma skin cancer.

Propensity score fine stratification weighted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, separately.

RESULTS: Overall, DPP-4 inhibitors were associated with a 23% decreased risk of melanoma compared with sulfonylureas (49.7 vs 65.3 per 100 000 person-years, respectively; HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.96).

The HR progressively reduced with increasing cumulative duration of use (0–2 years HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.54; 2.1–5 years HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.66; >5 years HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.74).

In contrast, these drugs were not associated with the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer, compared with sulfonylureas (448.1 vs 426.1 per 100 000 person-years, respectively; HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.15).

CONCLUSIONS: In this large, population-based cohort study, DPP-4 inhibitors were associated with a reduced risk of melanoma but not non-melanoma skin cancer, compared with sulfonylureas.