Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
05:44
Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema
Published on: January 12, 2017
Breast cancer in lupus.
1Department of Radiology, Philipps University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, Marburg, Germany. i.boehm@uni-bonn.de
Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women with incomplete lupus erythematosus (ILE), not systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Autoantibodies like SSA and SSB may indicate increased cancer risk in ILE patients.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Lupus erythematosus (LE) encompasses systemic (SLE) and incomplete (ILE) forms.
- The association between LE and malignancy, particularly breast cancer (BC), requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of breast cancer (BC) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or incomplete lupus erythematosus (ILE).
- To explore potential immunological differences between lupus patients with and without cancer.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 133 female lupus patients' medical records.
- Evaluation of malignancy status and routine laboratory parameters, including autoantibodies (SSA, SSB) and white blood cell counts.
Main Results:
- Breast cancer was the most common malignancy, found in 50% of lupus patients with cancer.
- Malignancies, including BC, were exclusively observed in patients with incomplete lupus erythematosus (ILE).
- ILE patients with malignancies showed significantly higher proportions of SSA- and SSB-autoantibodies compared to those without malignancies.
Conclusions:
- Breast cancer is the predominant malignancy in patients diagnosed with incomplete lupus erythematosus (ILE).
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not a prerequisite for developing cancer in lupus patients.
- Specific immunological markers, such as SSA and SSB autoantibodies, may play a role in oncogenesis within the ILE population.
