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.

atalia V. Zamora, MD, of the University

of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre,

Houston, explained that biologics for

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.

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.

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.

Elsevier Conference Series

• ACR/ARHP 2016 Annual Meeting