RESEARCH - 2 arthritis drugs' cancer risks detailed: researchers call threat small, say advantages valid

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2 arthritis drugs' cancer risks detailed

Researchers call threat small, say the advantages are valid

Lindsey Tanner

Associated Press

May. 17, 2006 12:00 AM

CHICAGO - Rheumatoid arthritis patients taking Humira or Remicade face

triple the risk of developing several kinds of cancer and double the risk of

getting serious infections, a study led by the Mayo Clinic found.

The analysis builds on previous reports about the risks associated with

Abbott Laboratories' Humira and Centocor's Remicade. But the earlier

research focused mostly on one kind of cancer, lymphoma, and infections such

as tuberculosis and pneumonia.

The new study found an apparent link to other cancers, too, including skin,

gastrointestinal, breast and lung tumors. It also quantifies the risks and

says high doses appear to be the riskiest.

While the drugs' packaging information mentions some of the risks, the

manufacturers said the new study does not prove that the medication is at

fault. Manufacturers also said the research was flawed.

Study co-author Dr. Matteson, a Mayo Clinic rheumatologist, stressed

the overall chances of developing cancer while using these drugs is still

small. The researchers also noted that the medications' benefits include

improving flexibility and range of movement, easing pain and increasing life

expectancy, which arthritis can shorten.

In addition, the researchers noted that the risks for individual patients

probably vary widely. Older, sicker people who have taken the drugs for

several years probably face the highest risks, they said.

Their study appears in today's Journal of the American Medical Association.

Matteson is working with Centocor to develop a new drug that works

similarly, and he and co-author Dr. Tim Bongartz have been paid consultants

to Abbott for unrelated work, but neither company funded the study. The Mayo

Foundation sponsored the research.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 2 million Americans and involves a

malfunctioning immune system that attacks joints throughout the body,

causing pain, deformities and disability.

More than a half-million patients have been treated with the two injectable

drugs and a third similar medication, Enbrel, all of which block production

of a protein linked with inflammation.

Enbrel was not included in the study because it differs at the molecular

level, Matteson said. He said he is getting paid by Enbrel marketers Wyeth

and Amgen to do a similar analysis on Enbrel alone.

Matteson's ties to Centocor and his work on Enbrel were among several

omissions and errors included in disclosure statements that accompanied the

study in JAMA.

He said the omissions were " errors of oversight on my part " and that he was

not attempting to conceal anything. Matteson said he brought the issues to

JAMA's attention on Friday.

But in an unusual move, journal editors posted a correction Tuesday on

JAMA's Web site revealing that they have asked the Mayo Clinic College of

Medicine to investigate.

The editors cited " the nature and extensiveness of this incorrect and

incomplete reporting. "

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0517arthritis0517.html

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org