Study Links Lichen Planus to Increased Oral and Genital Cancer Risk

A nationwide Danish cohort study found that patients with lichen planus (LP) had an increased risk of oral, genital, and cutaneous cancers, with the strongest associations observed at anatomical sites affected by the inflammatory condition. The findings, published in JAMA Dermatology, showed that elevated cancer risks persisted over time, although absolute risks remained low.¹

Researchers analyzed nationwide registry data from 35,845 patients with incident LP diagnoses between 1978 and 2020, including 21,650 women and 14,195 men. Patients with prior cancer were excluded. Cancer outcomes were tracked through December 2023 using the Danish Cancer Register. Investigators calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals to compare cancer incidence among patients with LP against the general Danish population, stratified by sex.

Oral and Genital Lichen Planus Show Strongest Cancer Associations

Patients with oral LP had a 9- to 14-fold increased risk of oral cancers, while those with genital LP had a 17- to 24-fold increased risk of genital cancers. Among women with LP, elevated risks were observed for oral cavity cancer (SIR, 7.5; 95% CI, 6.4 to 8.9), tongue cancer (SIR, 6.8; 95% CI, 5.4 to 8.4), and vulvar cancer (SIR, 2.6; 95% CI, 2.0 to 3.4). Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma risk was modestly elevated (SIR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.3 to 1.6). Despite elevated relative risks, 20-year absolute oral cavity cancer risks were 0.8% among women and 1.0% among men.

"In this cohort study, LP was associated with markedly increased risks of oral and genital cancers, as well as a slightly increased risk of skin cancer, particularly at sites corresponding to the anatomical LP location," the authors wrote. "While the absolute risk is low, site-specific cancer should be considered a possible long-term complication of LP."

Source

Medianfar CE, et al. JAMA Dermatology. 2026. Doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.3933