Oropharyngeal carcinoma arising after methotrexate and etanercept therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

Etanercept is an anti-tumor necrosis factor α receptor agent used to treat inflammatory conditions. Previous reports described rapid development of skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) after etanercept use. This report describes a novel case of oropharyngeal SCC associated with the use of etanercept. A 45-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis developed oropharyngeal pain within 2 months after the start of etanercept therapy and was diagnosed with tonsillar carcinoma. This patient had other exposures that increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancer, such as tobacco and alcohol use. However, owing to the timing of onset of his initial symptoms, etanercept should be considered as a possible factor in the etiology or progression of his tumor, especially in the context of reported skin SCC after etanercept therapy in patients at risk for SCC. Clinicians should be alert to signs of malignancy in patients on etanercept, particularly those at high risk for skin or head and neck cancers.