He Lijiao, Wei Meiying, Yang Qikui, Huang Yun, Wei Zuyuan
Department of Dermatology, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenshan, China.
Department of Dermatology, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenshan, China.
An Bras Dermatol. 2025 Jul 17;100(5):501161. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2025.501161.
Arsenic, recognized as a potentially lethal substance and a carcinogen, has been associated with an increased risk of skin cancer; however, the findings have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of arsenic exposure on skin cancer risk (including melanoma and non-melanoma) through a meta-analysis of the available data.
To assess the risk of skin cancer from arsenic exposure.
Searches were performed in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and CNKI (as of June 10, 2024). The pooled odds ratio (OR) and its 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) were calculated using a random effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed considering sample size, study centers, U.S. regions, arsenic exposure routes, and measurement methods.
A total of 12 papers were included, comprising 48,003 participants. The findings indicated an association between arsenic exposure and the risk of skin cancer ([OR = 1.51], 95% CI 1.26-1.80). Specifically, the OR was 1.52 (95% CI 1.06-2.17) for melanoma, 1.64 (95% CI 1.16-2.32) for squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.36 (95% CI 1.04-1.77) for basal cell carcinoma. Subgroup analyses also revealed an association between arsenic exposure and skin cancer in the United States (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.25-1.87). Both ingestion and inhalation pathways of arsenic exposure showed a trend toward an increased risk of skin cancer.
An important limitation of this study is a degree of heterogeneity, and another is due to the limited number of research papers available.
This meta-analysis indicates that arsenic exposure may be associated with an elevated risk of skin cancer. Additional prospective research is necessary to verify the association between arsenic exposure and the incidence of skin cancer, encompassing both cutaneous malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.
砷被认为是一种潜在的致命物质和致癌物，与皮肤癌风险增加有关；然而，研究结果并不一致。本研究的目的是通过对现有数据进行荟萃分析，评估砷暴露对皮肤癌风险（包括黑色素瘤和非黑色素瘤）的影响。
评估砷暴露导致皮肤癌的风险。
在PubMed、Web of Science、Embase和CNKI等数据库中进行检索（截至2024年6月10日）。使用随机效应模型计算合并比值比（OR）及其95%置信区间（95%CI）。考虑样本量、研究中心、美国地区、砷暴露途径和测量方法进行亚组分析。
共纳入12篇论文，包括48,003名参与者。研究结果表明砷暴露与皮肤癌风险之间存在关联（[OR = 1.51]，95%CI 1.26 - 1.80）。具体而言，黑色素瘤的OR为1.52（95%CI 1.06 - 2.17），鳞状细胞癌为1.64（95%CI 1.16 - 2.32），基底细胞癌为1.36（95%CI 1.04 - 1.77）。亚组分析还显示美国的砷暴露与皮肤癌之间存在关联（OR = 1.52，95%CI 1.25 - 1.87）。砷暴露的摄入和吸入途径均显示出皮肤癌风险增加的趋势。
本研究的一个重要局限性是存在一定程度的异质性，另一个局限性是可用的研究论文数量有限。
这项荟萃分析表明，砷暴露可能与皮肤癌风险升高有关。需要进行更多的前瞻性研究来验证砷暴露与皮肤癌发病率之间的关联，包括皮肤恶性黑色素瘤和非黑色素瘤皮肤癌。
