Telmisartan (and/or nitrosamine) - induced occult melanoma: first reported case in world literature

Abstract

Introduction: The known connections between the terms ‘sartans’ and ‘melanoma’ has grown recently in the clinical field, suggesting that the relationship between these concepts is very likely to be significant, rather than hypothetical or unfeasible. This is because: 1) the presence of angiotensin receptors in melanoma tissue, melanocytes and skin is a known fact; 2) the influence of sartans on the processes of melanogenesis has already been presented in recent published scientific papers; 3) key in vitro studies have shown that angiotensin receptor blockers (sartans) could potentiate carcinogenesis in the direction of melanoma and metastases; and 4) clinical examples of the occurrence of melanoma after starting therapy with sartans have become numerous and difficult to ignore. Areas covered: We report the first case of occult melanoma in an 87-year-old Bulgarian patient, this manifested in the form of a solitary metastasis on the left arm, which occurred after long-term therapy with telmisartan. Expert opinion: The fact that nitrosamines have a proven carcinogenic effect and are the cause of heterogeneous neoplasms does not exclude the possibility of the latter to create inducers and melanomas. The multifactorial pathogenesis of melanoma could certainly be clarified after the ‘crystallization’ of this currently serious issue.