Erectile dysfunction drugs like Cialis may exacerbate melanoma, an aggressive and sometimes deadly type of skin cancer. Eli Lilly & Co. is facing dozens of lawsuits for failing to warn about the risk.
Overview
Cialis (tadalafil) is a prescription dug for men with erectile dysfunction. It works in the same way as Viagra — blocking an enzyme called PDE5 (phosphodiesterase-5), which causes vasodilation in the penis.
What is the problem?
About half of melanomas have a mutation that blocks the enzyme PDE5. Unfortunately, studies have found that blocking PDE5 exacerbates melanoma by making it grow faster and more invasive.
Studies Link Erectile Dysfunction Drugs and Melanoma
Based on evidence linking PDE5-inhibitors and melanoma, researchers decided to see whether erectile dysfunction drugs were associated with a risk. In July 2014, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine concluded that men on Viagra were 84% more likely to develop melanoma.
Cialis Melanoma Lawsuits
Cialis melanoma lawsuits against Eli Lilly & Co. have been centralized into a Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2691) in the Northern District of California under U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg. These lawsuits accuse the drug-maker of failing to warn about the “significant risk of exacerbating melanoma.” Similar claims have been made in hundreds of Viagra lawsuits against Pfizer, which are also centralized in the same MDL in California.
What is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs when pigment cells called melanocytes grow uncontrollably. In the United States, 76,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma and 10,000 will die from it in 2016, according to the American Cancer Society.
Symptoms of Melanoma
Melanomas often resemble moles, and some start from moles. The only conclusive way to diagnose melanoma is by looking at a tissue sample under a microscope. It may have the following symptoms:
- Asymmetrical or irregular shape
- Border is uneven or it has “scalloped” edges
- Colors (tan, brown, red, white, pink)
- Diameter is larger than 1/4-inch or a pencil eraser
- Evolves and changes over time
- Feels hard, bumpy, painful, itchy, or crusty
Complications of Melanoma
The most serious complication is metastasis, in which cancerous cells spread in the body. Melanoma often spreads to the lymph nodes, bones, brain, liver, lungs, or muscles.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Melanomas that are diagnosed in their early stages can usually be cured with a simple surgery to cut out the cancer and a margin of skin around it. Treatment becomes much more complex when the cancer has metastasized. In addition to surgery, patients may need immunotherapy, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
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