Association of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 inhibitors with risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

This article investigates the association between proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors—lipid-lowering drugs used in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)—and the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Using a retrospective cohort design with data from the US Collaborative Network in the TriNetX database, the study found that ASCVD patients treated with PCSK9 inhibitors had a significantly lower risk of developing NMSC compared to those on statins alone, with hazard ratios around 0.78 for overall NMSC, BCC, and cSCC. The reduced risk was particularly notable in men, patients aged 65 years and older, and immunosuppressed individuals. These findings suggest a potential chemopreventive effect of PCSK9 inhibitors on NMSC, though further research is needed to clarify underlying mechanisms and confirm causality.