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  • Title: Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of methoxsalen plus UV-A.
    Author: Roelandts R.
    Journal: Arch Dermatol; 1984 May; 120(5):662-9. PubMed ID: 6372701.
    Abstract:
    The combination of methoxsalen and long-wave UV radiation (UV-A) is being used on a large scale in clinical practice to treat a variety of dermatoses, particularly psoriasis. Theoretically, this combination may be mutagenic and carcinogenic, since methoxsalen binds covalently with DNA under the influence of UV-A. Mutagenicity has been studied in microorganisms and cell cultures. Arguments for possible carcinogenicity come from animal experiments and also from long-term follow-up studies of patients treated with psoralens and UV-A (PUVA). Transplantation studies in animals, allergic and irritative skin reaction experiments, and clinical observations indicate that PUVA also has an immunosuppressive effect. Short-term risk of skin cancer from PUVA therapy seems to be rather low if careful patient selection is made. However, for all patients, long-term maintenance treatment should be avoided as much as possible.
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