Publication:

Rapid development of multiple nonmelanoma skin cancers secondary to ruxolitinib: a case report

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are immunosuppressive medications that function by deactivating the JAK-STAT pathway causing inhibition of cellular growth. Ruxolitinib is a JAK inhibitor that is commonly used to treat disease processes such as myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera and graft versus host disease, with some evidence of benefit with prostate cancer as well. Side effects of ruxolitinib include increased risk of infection, pancytopenia, cardiovascular disease and malignancy relating to the medication’s immunosuppressive effects. Here we reported a 69-year-old male with prostate cancer being treated with ruxolitinib who developed multiple nonmelanoma skin cancers over a 13-month period.