OPINION - Cancer risk in patients with RA treated with anti-TNF therapies

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From Medscape Rheumatology

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Deane, MD

Authors and Disclosures

Posted: 05 Feb 2010

Exploring the Link Between Anti-TNF-alpha Therapy in RA and Cancer

Cancer Risk in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated With

Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Therapies: Does the Risk Change With

the Time Since Start of Treatment?

Askling J, van Vollenhoven RF, Granath F, et al

Arthritis Rheum. 2009;60:3180-3189

Introduction

Since the introduction of anti-tumor necrosis-alpha (TNF-alpha)

therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there has been considerable

concern about the potential for increased cancer risk associated with

these agents. This concern is especially important because TNF

blockade may mechanistically lead to alterations in cancer development

or growth.[1] However, several recent investigations suggest that

anti-TNF-alpha is not associated with a substantial increase in cancer

risk,[2-4] although data have been limited by the relatively short

follow-up for cancer outcomes in randomized controlled studies and the

inherent variability in observational studies. As a result, concern

remains about the possible risk for cancer due to anti-TNF-alpha

agents, and large-scale studies investigating this issue -- especially

those offering longitudinal data -- are welcome, given the possibility

of increased cancer risk over time.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715968

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