Cancer and autoimmune diseases

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• The link between autoimmunity and cancer is established, with some autoimmune disorders (AID) implicated in cancer development.
• Both AID and immunosuppressive therapies have been associated with an elevated cancer risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent data (past three years) on the association between autoimmunity and cancer.
• To focus on large cohort studies and significant discoveries in cancer-autoimmunity links.

Main Methods:

• Review of accumulating data from large registries and databases.
• Analysis of recent studies on the association between autoimmune disorders and cancer risk.
• Examination of research on autoimmunity secondary to malignancy.

Main Results:

• Large registry data suggest a small to no increase in cancer risk with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy.
• Re-evaluation of cancer risk in Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and lupus indicates different estimations than previously thought.
• New associations between malignancies and IgG4-related disease, Behcet's disease, and sarcoidosis were identified.
• Studies revealed autoimmunity secondary to malignancy and specific mutations in scleroderma patients with cancer.

Conclusions:

• Recent findings modify the understanding of cancer risk in AID and with anti-TNF therapy.
• Newly identified associations between specific autoimmune diseases and cancer hold clinical significance.
• Further research into the shared pathology of autoimmunity and cancer is warranted.