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Study finds no link between increased cancer risk and anti-TNF therapy, DMARDs for patients with PsA
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Results from this study demonstrated that when biological therapies are administered correctly and patients are properly followed, there was no increased chance for the development of cancer among patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with either anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha agents or traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Researchers prospectively followed 618 patients with psoriatic arthritis. Of these, 296 patients were treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF) agents and 322 patients were treated with traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Investigators recorded medical history and physical and laboratory findings at the first follow-up visit and at the 3-month and 4-month follow-up visits. Data also collected included presence of comorbidities and malignancies. Radiography and pathology information that confirmed a diagnosis of malignancy was collected at each follow-up visit.
Of the 618 patients, 44 patients were diagnosed with malignancies. Of these patients, 14 were treated with anti-TNF agents and 30 patients were treated with DMARDs. Investigators noted after they adjusted for demographics and clinical characteristics, the treatment groups were no longer significantly different regarding the development of cancer and age was the only predictor for the occurrence of malignancy. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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