RESEARCH - TNF antagonists for RA may alter cancer risk somewhat

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TNF Antagonists for RA May Alter Cancer Risk Somewhat

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Oct 10 - There may be some association between use

of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as tumor necrosis

factor (TNF) alpha antagonists by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

and cancer risk, but this appears not to be substantial, researchers report

in the September issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

" Our study supports continued use of TNF alpha antagonists, " lead

investigator Dr. Soko Setoguchi told Reuters Health. " However, our study

does not exclude a small to moderate increase or decrease in the risk for

cancers and also does not exclude the possibility that both TNF alpha

antagonists and methotrexate raise the risk for cancers. "

Dr. Setoguchi of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston and colleagues used US

and Canadian data to study a pooled cohort of more than 1100 biologic DMARD

users and 7300 methotrexate users.

Compared to methotrexate users, those taking a DMARD had a propensity

score-adjusted pooled hazard ratio of 1.37 for hematologic malignancies. For

solid tumors, the corresponding hazard ratio was 0.91, the team reports.

The researchers note that studying the effect of infrequent biologic DMARD

exposure on rare diseases such as hematologic malignancies remains a

challenge.

However, concluded Dr. Setoguchi, " Patients need to understand the possible

risk for malignancy associated with all DMARDs prior to initiation. "

Arthritis Rheum 2006;54:2757-2764.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/545811

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