RESEARCH - Cancer in arthritis patients after anti-TNF therapy

[Guest guest]

Ugeskr Laeger. 2009 Feb 9;171(7):506-11.

[Cancer in arthritis patients after anti-tumour necrosis factor

therapy][Article in Danish]

Dreyer L, Mellemkjaer L, Hetland ML.

TA Reumatologisk Klinik 4242, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 København Ø.

INTRODUCTION: The use of anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF)

therapy is increasing in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA),

spondyloarthropathy, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease. It is

being debated whether treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases

with anti-TNF therapy is associated with an increased cancer

incidence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive study of cancer cases among 3,688

patients with rheumatic diseases who received anti-TNF therapy was

performed. The patients were identified in the nationwide database

DANBIO and had a total number of treatment years of 6,092 years. All

cancer cases were identified and the cancer diagnoses were

subsequently confirmed by medical record review.

RESULTS: A total of 30 cancers in 28 of 3,688 patients were registered

in the DANBIO after initiation of anti-TNF therapy in the period from

October 2000 to June 2007. Among these six men and 20 women had RA,

and two men had Morbus Becterew. The following cancer types were

observed: malignant lymphoma 2 (7%), lung 4 (13%), plicae vocalis 2

(7%), breast 4 (13%), pancreatic 3 (10%), colorectal 2 (7%), prostate

1 (3%), malignant melanoma 3 (10%) and non-melanoma skin cancer 9

(30%).

CONCLUSION: In our descriptive study from the nationwide database

DANBIO, a total of 30 cancers were observed in 3,688 patients with

rheumatic diseases within a cumulated period of treatment with

anti-TNF of 6,092 years. Follow-up for anti-rheumatic and adverse

effects in patients in the DANBIO database will continue. Future

studies must reveal whether anti-TNF therapy is associated with an

increased cancer risk. Planned Danish studies will include relevant

control groups and adjustment for confounders.

PMID: 19210932

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210932

Not an MD

[Guest guest]

I am going to have to print this and see what my doc has to say. He was just

telling me that they know there is an increased rate of lymphoma from just

having RA which makes some sense since your lymphatic system is part of your

immune system which we know ours is screwed up. He didn't think there was

increased risk with biologics for cancers like breast, lung and those types.

Makes you wonder what they really know for sure. Guess we will find out more the

longer the biologics are on the market. There are so many unknowns until time

tells.

>

> Ugeskr Laeger. 2009 Feb 9;171(7):506-11.

>

>

> [Cancer in arthritis patients after anti-tumour necrosis factor

> therapy][Article in Danish]

>

>

> Dreyer L, Mellemkjaer L, Hetland ML.

> TA Reumatologisk Klinik 4242, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 København Ø.

>

>

> INTRODUCTION: The use of anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF)

> therapy is increasing in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA),

> spondyloarthropathy, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease. It is

> being debated whether treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases

> with anti-TNF therapy is associated with an increased cancer

> incidence.

>

> MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive study of cancer cases among 3,688

> patients with rheumatic diseases who received anti-TNF therapy was

> performed. The patients were identified in the nationwide database

> DANBIO and had a total number of treatment years of 6,092 years. All

> cancer cases were identified and the cancer diagnoses were

> subsequently confirmed by medical record review.

>

> RESULTS: A total of 30 cancers in 28 of 3,688 patients were registered

> in the DANBIO after initiation of anti-TNF therapy in the period from

> October 2000 to June 2007. Among these six men and 20 women had RA,

> and two men had Morbus Becterew. The following cancer types were

> observed: malignant lymphoma 2 (7%), lung 4 (13%), plicae vocalis 2

> (7%), breast 4 (13%), pancreatic 3 (10%), colorectal 2 (7%), prostate

> 1 (3%), malignant melanoma 3 (10%) and non-melanoma skin cancer 9

> (30%).

>

> CONCLUSION: In our descriptive study from the nationwide database

> DANBIO, a total of 30 cancers were observed in 3,688 patients with

> rheumatic diseases within a cumulated period of treatment with

> anti-TNF of 6,092 years. Follow-up for anti-rheumatic and adverse

> effects in patients in the DANBIO database will continue. Future

> studies must reveal whether anti-TNF therapy is associated with an

> increased cancer risk. Planned Danish studies will include relevant

> control groups and adjustment for confounders.

>

>

> PMID: 19210932

>

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210932

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>