Melanotan II nasal spray: a possible risk factor for oral mucosal malignant melanoma?

This paper reports the case of a 22-year-old female who developed a mucosal malignant melanoma of the anterior maxilla following use of Melanotan II, an unlicensed synthetic analogue of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) administered as a nasal spray for cosmetic tanning purposes. Histological analysis confirmed the malignant melanoma diagnosis, and the patient was subsequently treated with surgical resection followed by immunotherapy. The authors conducted a supporting literature review examining the potential association between Melanotan II use and malignant melanoma development. They note that Melanotan II is illegal to sell in the United Kingdom and many other countries due to its unlicensed status and safety concerns. The paper highlights awareness of serious potential adverse effects linked to Melanotan II use. As a single case report, it cannot establish causation between Melanotan II use and oral mucosal melanoma; the temporal association is notable but confounding factors and the rarity of the event limit broader conclusions. The authors call for greater public and clinical awareness of risks associated with unregulated tanning peptides.

Why this grade: A single case report in one human patient cannot establish causation and provides only anecdotal, limited-level evidence of a possible association between Melanotan II and mucosal malignant melanoma.