Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
06:35
An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
Rheumatoid factor isotypes and cancer prognosis
T Jónsson1, J Thorsteinsson, H Valdimarsson
1Department of Immunology, National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Cancer
|April 15, 1992
Summary
Rheumatoid factor (RF) shows a dual role in cancer. Elevated immunoglobulin A RF correlates with increased cancer risk and mortality, while immunoglobulin M RF indicates a favorable cancer prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Rheumatoid factor (RF) is an autoantibody often associated with autoimmune diseases.
- The link between RF and cancer risk or prognosis is not fully understood.
- Longitudinal health data provides an opportunity to investigate such associations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between rheumatoid factor (RF) and cancer incidence and prognosis.
- To differentiate the impact of different RF immunoglobulin classes (IgA and IgM) on cancer outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of blood samples from a long-term health survey in Reykjavik (1974-1983).
- Screening 16,299 samples for RF and comparing RF-positive (n=270) and RF-negative (n=223) individuals.
- Utilizing the Icelandic Cancer Registry for cancer incidence and survival data over an average 9.3-year follow-up.
Main Results:
- Elevated immunoglobulin A (IgA) RF was associated with an increased risk of cancer and higher total mortality.
- Elevated immunoglobulin M (IgM) RF in cancer patients before diagnosis correlated with a better survival rate.
- Cancer incidence in RF-negative controls matched the national Icelandic cancer incidence.
Conclusions:
- Elevated IgA RF may be an adverse prognostic marker in relation to cancer.
- Elevated IgM RF appears to be associated with a favorable prognosis in cancer patients.
- Different RF immunoglobulin classes have distinct implications for cancer risk and outcome.
Related Concept Videos
02:38The Ras Gene
The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a superfamily...
Ras is a superfamily...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:20The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as SH2...
01:24T Cell Types and Functions
When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
01:23Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...