BACKGROUND: Evidence for an association between aspirin or other nonsteroidal 
antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been 
inconsistent.
OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis to assess the 
effect of oral NSAIDs on BCC.
METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched up to 
December 3, 2014. A random effects model metaanalysis was used to calculate 
summary estimates of the effects of aspirin, nonaspirin NSAIDs, or any (aspirin 
or nonaspirin) NSAID use in patients with BCC.
RESULTS: The summary estimates from 11 studies (1 randomized controlled trial, 5 
cohort studies, and 5 case control studies) found a 10% risk reduction of BCC 
among those using any NSAID (relative risk [RR], 0.90 [95% confidence interval 
{CI}, 0.84-0.97]). A similar but not statistically significant inverse 
association was observed for nonaspirin NSAIDs (RR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.86-1.02]), 
while aspirin use was more weakly associated (RR, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.91-1.00]). The 
strongest inverse associations were noted among those with either a history of 
skin cancers or a high prevalence of actinic keratoses.
LIMITATIONS: Dose-effect estimates could not be calculated because the available 
data were too heterogeneous to pool.
CONCLUSION: The intake of NSAIDs may help prevent BCC, particularly in high-risk 
populations. A large randomized controlled trial is required to confirm these 
findings.