ACR/ARHP 2016

Biologic therapy continues in 12% RA patients despite cancer diagnosis In a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were diagnosed with cancer, 12% either continued their biologic or started a new biologic. The biologic most commonly in question was a tumour necrosis factor inhibitor. One third harboured active cancer or a recurrence during follow-up. N atalia V. Zamora, MD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, explained that biologics for Dr Zamora and coinvestigators set out to assess the extent to which biologics are continued or begun a new therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are diagnosed with cancer.

rheumatoid arthritis suppress immune response. Immune response is key for protection against cancer progression, and biologics are often discontinued when a patient with rheumatoid arthritis develops cancer for this reason. Dr Zamora noted, “One of the major discussions in rheumatology is whether to continue or suspend a biologic in certain conditions, one of which is cancer.” At Dr Zamora’s centre, a large number of patients present with both conditions.

Between 2002 and 2014, study participants with rheumatoid arthritis and cancer were seen at a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center. They were initially identified as suffering from rheumatoid arthritis if they had submitted an insurance claim with the diagnostic code for rheumatoid arthritis (714) according to the International Classification of Diseases 9.

© ACR/ARHP 2016 Annual Meeting • acrannualmeeting.org

4

Elsevier Conference Series • ACR/ARHP 2016 Annual Meeting