Systemic sclerosis and malignancy

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Oncology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, including pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, renal crisis, infections, and malignancies.
• Risk factors for malignancy in SSc include chemical exposure, smoking, and cytotoxic drug use.
• This study evaluates the characteristics, risk factors, and mortality of malignancies in SSc patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize malignancies in patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).
• To identify risk factors associated with cancer development in SSc.
• To assess mortality rates in SSc patients diagnosed with cancer.

Main Methods:

• One hundred fifty-three SSc patients (mean age 56.4 years) were enrolled based on 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria.
• Clinical, demographic, laboratory, and radiological data were collected and analyzed.
• Chi-square test was used for qualitative data comparison.

Main Results:

• Seven SSc patients (mean age 51.2 years) were diagnosed with malignancies, including lung, gastrointestinal, myelodysplastic syndrome, and melanoma.
• Five patients (3.4%) died due to infection, cardiopulmonary issues, or renal crisis.
• Diffuse cutaneous SSc subtype and anti-Scl-70 positivity were noted in 6 and 71.4% of cancer patients, respectively, with no significant differences in age, sex, or organ involvement compared to non-cancer patients.

Conclusions:

• Malignancies can arise before, during, or after SSc diagnosis, increasing morbidity and mortality.
• Rational treatment, monitoring, and risk factor reduction are essential for malignancy prevention in SSc.
• Observed clinical features, risk factors, and prevalence align with findings from larger cohorts.