Association of valproic acid use, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, and melanoma risk

Histone deacetylase inhibitors, including valproic acid, selectively induce cellular differentiation and apoptosis in melanoma cells. No published pharmacoepidemiology studies have explored the association between valproic acid use and melanoma risk. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult white Kaiser Permanente Northern California members (n=2,213,845) from 1997-2012 to examine the association between valproic acid use and melanoma risk. Melanoma hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age, sex, calendar year and healthcare use.
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research