Association of chronic inflammation, not its treatment, with increased lymphoma risk in rheumatoid arthritis

Haematological malignancies in patients with psoriatic arthritis overall and treated with TNF inhibitors: a Nordic cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the risk of haematological malignancies in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) overall, and in relation to treatment with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi).

METHODS

We identified that patients with PsA starting a first TNFi from the clinical rheumatology registers (CRR) in the five Nordic countries (n=10 621) and biologics-naïve PsA patients from (1) the CRR (n=18 705) and (2) the national patient registers (NPR, n=27 286, Sweden and Denmark) from 2006 through 2019. For Sweden and Denmark, general population comparators were matched 5:1 to PsA patients on birth year, year at start of follow-up and sex. By linkage to the national cancer registers in all countries, we collected information on haematological malignancies overall, and categorised into lymphoid or myeloid types. We estimated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs using modified Poisson regression for TNFi-treated versus biologics-naïve PsA patients and versus the general population adjusted for age, sex, calendar period and country.

RESULTS

During 59 827 person-years, 40 haematological malignancies occurred among TNFi-treated patients with PsA resulting in a pooled IRR of 0.96 (0.68-1.35) versus biologics-naïve PsA from CRR and an IRR of 0.84 (0.64-1.10) versus biologics-naïve PsA from NPR. The IRR of haematological malignancies in PsA overall versus general population comparators was 1.35 (1.17-1.55). The estimates were largely similar for lymphoid and myeloid malignancies.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with TNFi in patients with PsA was not associated with an increased incidence of haematological malignancies. Conversely, a moderately increased underlying risk was seen in patients with PsA compared with the general population.

Steroid prescribing in primary care increases prior to Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis: A UK nationwide case-control study

BACKGROUND

Steroid use is associated with increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). However, allergic symptoms commonly treated with steroids are also presenting features of HL in some patients, thereby introducing protopathic bias in estimates of aetiological associations. It is therefore important to examine steroid prescribing patterns pre-diagnosis to understand timing of associations and when healthcare use increases before cancer diagnosis to inform future epidemiological study design.

METHODS

We analysed steroid prescribing in 1232 HL patients and 7392 matched controls using primary care electronic health records (Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), 1987-2016). Using Poisson regression, we calculated monthly steroid prescribing rates for the 24-months preceding HL diagnosis, identifying the inflection point when they start to increase from baseline in cases, comparing rates with synchronous controls, and stratifying by route-of-administration and allergic disease status.

RESULTS

46 % of HL patients had a steroid prescription in the 24-months preceding diagnosis compared to 26 % of controls (OR 2.55, 95 %CI 2.25-2.89, p < 0.001). Odds of underlying HL were greatest in patients receiving multiple steroid prescriptions, oral steroids and in patients with a new allergic disease diagnosis. Among HL patients, steroid prescribing rates increased progressively from 7-months pre-diagnosis, doubling from 52 to 111 prescriptions/1000 patients/month.

CONCLUSION

Steroid prescribing increases during periods leading up to HL diagnosis, suggesting steroid-treated symptoms may be early presenting features of HL. A diagnostic window of appreciable length exists for potential earlier HL diagnosis in some patients; this 7-month 'lag-period' pre-diagnosis should be excluded in studies examining aetiological associations between steroids and HL.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Alberta Lymphoma Patients with a History of Immunosuppressive therapy for Autoimmune Conditions

BACKGROUND

Other iatrogenic immunosuppression associated lymphoproliferative disorders (Oii-LPD) is rare subset of lymphoma. There are limited published data on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of this patient population. The primary objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Alberta patients diagnosed with lymphoma following immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune conditions. Secondary objectives included describing the incidence of Oii-LPD, proportions of subtypes of lymphoma diagnosed and the nature of immunosuppressants used. The outcomes of patients with iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were compared against a matched control group of patients with de novo DLBCL.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study is a descriptive retrospective cohort study with a matched historical control comparison for patients with DLBCL. Alberta lymphoma patients, diagnosed from January 2011 to December 2019, with a history of iatrogenic immunosuppression were identified and described.

RESULTS

The incidence of Oii-LPD was 1% of total Alberta lymphoma cases. Majority of this cohort were diagnosed with DLBCL (54.9%) and the most common immunosuppressive agents were methotrexate (62%), hydroxychloroquine (42%), and TNF inhibitors (31%). Survival was not different between Oii-LPD DLBCL and de novo DLBCL with 5-year survival rates of 64.1% and 67%, respectively (HR 1.11 [95% CI, 0.64-1.94]).

CONCLUSION

Oii-LPD are rare with the most frequent subtype being DLBCL occurring in the setting of methotrexate use. In this population-based analysis, the outcomes of iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated DLBCL were not significantly different from those of de novo DLBCL patients.

Reasons for discontinuation of methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and challenges of methotrexate resumption: a single-center, retrospective study

Background

Methotrexate (MTX) is an anchor drug used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA); hence, understanding the reasons for MTX discontinuation in RA can help improve its treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the reasons for MTX discontinuation and to identify future challenges in RA treatment regarding the discontinuation and resumption of MTX treatment.

Results

MTX administration was discontinued in 771 patients with RA. The reasons for MTX discontinuation were as follows: (1) infectious diseases (20.0%), (2) malignancy (14.1%), and (3) respiratory problems (10.2%). Some patients did not resume MTX therapy even after the infections were cured. Liver dysfunction (8.0%) did not improve with MTX discontinuation and was often associated with fatty liver disease. In addition to adverse events, MTX discontinuation was due to patient preference (4.3%), planning for pregnancy (5.1%), invalidity (5.7%), remission (5.6%), remission with biologics (4.7%), old age (2.6%), and poor compliance (1.6%).

Conclusions

This study revealed diverse reasons for the discontinuation of MTX; there are cases in which MTX is discontinued but should be considered for resumption. Furthermore, issues such as the indications for MTX discontinuation should still be debated, and multicenter evidence must be collected and examined in future studies.

Exploring the molecular mechanisms and shared gene signatures between rheumatoid arthritis and diffuse large B cell lymphoma

The relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is well characterized, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this association have not been clearly investigated. Our study aimed to identify shared gene signatures and molecular mechanisms between RA and DLBCL. We selected multiple Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets (GSE93272, GSE83632, GSE12453, GSE1919) to obtain gene expression levels and clinical information about patients with RA and DLBCL. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to research co-expression networks associated with RA and DLBCL. Subsequently, we performed enrichment analysis of shared genes and screened the most significant core genes. We observed expression of the screened target gene, galectin 2 (LGALS2), in DLBCL patients and its impact on patient prognosis. Finally, we analyzed the molecular functional mechanism of LGALS2 and observed its relationship with the immune response in DLBCL using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA). WGCNA recognized two major modules for RA and DLBCL, respectively. Shared genes (551) were identified for RA and DLBCL by observing the intersection. In addition, a critical shared gene, LGALS2, was acquired in the validation tests. Next, we found that the expression level of LGALS2 gradually decreased with tumor progression in DLBCL and that increased expression of LGALS2 predicted a better prognosis for DLBCL patients. ssGSEA revealed that LGALS2 is involved in immune-related pathways and has a significant regulatory effect on human immune responses. Additionally, we observed that LGALS2 is closely related to the sensitivity of multiple chemotherapeutic drugs. There is extremely little research on the molecular mechanism of correlation between RA and DLBCL. Our study identified that LGALS2 is a potential therapeutic target and an immune-related biomarker for patients with RA and DLBCL.

Impact of Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

A high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been reported in many case reports and studies; thus, the association between EBV and IBD has gained increasing attention. Patients with IBD are at an increased risk of opportunistic EBV infection owing to the common use of immunomodulators. EBV infection in IBD patients can cause various complications, including superimposed viral colitis, which is associated with chronicity, exacerbation, and poor prognosis of refractory IBD, and can induce progression to lymphoproliferative disorders, such as EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU), lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG), hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It has been suggested to screen for EBV before initiating immunosuppressive therapy and monitor the status of EBV infection in patients with IBD, especially those who are EBV-seronegative and have a risk of primary EBV infection. Clinicians should also be careful of misdiagnosing IBD and EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases due to similarities in both clinical symptoms and endoscopic manifestations. Withdrawal of immunosuppressants has been shown to be an effective strategy to achieve remission of disease at the time of EBV diagnosis, but antiviral therapy remains controversial. The present review aims to describe the characteristics of the complications caused by EBV infection and generalize the recent research progress on and challenges caused by EBV infection in IBD patients. The literature for writing this review was collected from 'PubMed' research engine. The keywords 'inflammatory bowel disease and Epstein-Barr virus' or 'ulcerative colitis and Epstein-Barr virus' or 'Crohn's disease and Epstein-Barr virus' were used to collect the literature and relevant papers were collected to help writing this review.

Factors mediating cancer risk in systemic lupus erythematosus

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at an elevated risk for certain cancers compared to the population at large. Cancers seen at higher rates in the SLE population include hematologic malignancies, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and cancers of the lung and thyroid. SLE patients also have a decreased risk for certain malignancies, such as breast cancer, melanoma, and prostate cancer. We review the literature on risk factors for malignancy in patients with SLE and discuss the exogenous and innate factors that are thought to contribute to the unique pattern of cancer risk observed in this patient population. These risk factors are important for providers of SLE patients to understand in order to maintain high clinical suspicion and detect malignancy as soon as possible. Further research is needed to determine the most effective guidelines on counseling patients on cancer screening and prevention.

Normal gastrointestinal mucosa at biopsy and subsequent cancer risk: nationwide population-based, sibling-controlled cohort study

Background

While individuals with normal gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa on endoscopy have a lower risk of colorectal cancer, risks of other cancers remain unexplored.

Methods

Through Sweden’s 28 pathology departments, we identified 415,092 individuals with a first GI biopsy with histologically normal mucosa during 1965–2016 and no prior cancer. These individuals were compared to 1,939,215 matched reference individuals from the general population. Follow-up began 6 months after biopsy, and incident cancer data were retrieved from the Swedish Cancer Register. Flexible parametric model was applied to estimate cumulative incidences and hazard ratios (HRs) for cancers. We also used full siblings (n = 441,534) as a secondary comparison group.

Results

During a median follow-up of 10.9 years, 40,935 individuals with normal mucosa (incidence rate: 82.74 per 10,000 person-years) and 177,350 reference individuals (incidence rate: 75.26) developed cancer. Restricting the data to individuals where follow-up revealed no cancer in the first 6 months, we still observed an increased risk of any cancer in those with a histologically normal mucosa (average HR = 1.07; 95%CI = 1.06–1.09). Although the HR for any and specific cancers decreased shortly after biopsy, we observed a long-term excess risk of any cancer, with an HR of 1.08 (95%CI = 1.05–1.12) and a cumulative incidence difference of 0.93% (95%CI = 0.61%-1.25%) at 30 years after biopsy. An elevated risk of gastric cancer, lung cancer, and hematological malignancy (including lymphoproliferative malignancy) was also observed at 20 or 30 years since biopsy. Sibling analyses confirmed the above findings.

Conclusion

Individuals with a histologically normal mucosa at biopsy and where follow-up revealed no cancer in the first 6 months, may still be at increased risk of cancer, although excess risks are small.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09992-5.

The risk of newly diagnosed cancer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by TNF inhibitor use: a nationwide cohort study

Background

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has raised safety concerns about cancer risk, but study results remain controversial. This largest nationwide study to date compared cancer risk in TNF inhibitor users to non-biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (nbDMARD) users in Korean patients with RA.

Methods

Data on all the eligible patients diagnosed with RA between 2005 and 2016 were retrieved from the Korean National Health Information Database. The one-to-one matched patients consisted of the matched cohort. The risks for developing all-type and site-specific cancers were estimated using incidence and incidence rate (IR) per 1000 person-years. Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using a Cox regression model.

Results

Of the 22,851 patients in the before matching cohort, 4592 patients were included in the matched cohort. Treatment with TNF inhibitors was consistently associated with a lower risk of cancer than in the nbDMARD cohort (IR per 1000 person-years, 6.5 vs. 15.6; adjusted HR, 0.379; 95% CI, 0.255–0.563). The adjusted HR (95% CI) was significantly lower in the TNF inhibitor cohort than the nbDMARD cohort for gastrointestinal cancer (0.432; 0.235–0.797), breast cancer (0.146; 0.045–0.474), and genitourinary cancer (0.220; 0.059–0.820).

Conclusions

The use of TNF inhibitors was not associated with an increased risk of cancer development, and rather associated with a lower cancer incidence in Korean patients with RA. Cautious interpretation is needed not to oversimplify the study results as cancer-protective effects of TNF inhibitors. A further study linking claims and clinical data is needed to confirm our results.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-022-02868-w.

Trends in Risks of Malignancies in Japanese Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Analyses from a 14-year Observation of the IORRA Cohort

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the trends in risks of overall and site-specific malignancies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

Among Japanese patients with RA enrolled in the Institute of Rheumatology, Rheumatoid Arthritis (IORRA) cohort, all malignancies that occurred from 2000 to 2013 were extracted. The standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall and site-specific malignancies were calculated during three periods: pre-biologics, 2000-2004; early biologics, 2005-2009; and recent biologics, 2010-2013. Risk factors for overall and specific malignancies were analyzed using time-dependent Cox regression models.

RESULTS

Among 11,299 patients with RA (68,483 person-years), 507 malignancies were confirmed. Similar risks were observed versus the general Japanese population for overall malignancies throughout the three periods, with SIRs (95% CIs) of 0.96 (0.80-1.14) in the pre-biologics period, 0.95 (0.82-1.09) in the early biologics period, and 0.87 (0.75-1.01) in the recent biologics period. Significant increased risk for malignant lymphoma was observed throughout the observation period (SIR 4.61, 95% CI 3.58-5.85). The disease activity was a significant risk factor for overall malignancies and lung cancer.

CONCLUSION

Despite the expanding use of methotrexate and biologics, there were no increases in malignancy risk in Japanese patients with RA.

Inflammatory marker testing in primary care in the year before Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis: a UK population-based case-control study in patients aged ≤50 years

BACKGROUND

Proinflammatory conditions are associated with increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma, although the neoplastic process per se often induces an inflammatory response.

AIM

To examine pre-diagnostic inflammatory marker test use to identify changes that may define a 'diagnostic window' for potential earlier diagnosis.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This was a matched case-control study in UK primary care using Clinical Practice Research Datalink data (2002-2016).

METHOD

Primary care inflammatory marker test use and related findings were analysed in 839 Hodgkin lymphoma patients and 5035 controls in the year pre-diagnosis. Poisson regression models were used to calculate monthly testing rates to examine changes over time in test use. Longitudinal trends in test results and the presence/absence of 'red-flag' symptoms were examined.

RESULTS

In patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, 70.8% (594/839) had an inflammatory marker test in the year pre-diagnosis versus 16.2% (816/5035) of controls (odds ratio 13.7, 95% CI = 11.4 to 16.5, P<0.001). The rate of inflammatory marker testing and mean levels of certain inflammatory marker results increased progressively during the year pre-diagnosis in Hodgkin lymphoma patients while remaining stable in controls. Among patients with Hodgkin lymphoma with a pre-diagnostic test, two-thirds (69.5%, 413/594) had an abnormal result and, among these, 42.6% (176/413) had no other 'red-flag' presenting symptom/sign.

CONCLUSION

Increases in inflammatory marker requests and abnormal results occur in many patients with Hodgkin lymphoma several months pre-diagnosis, suggesting this period should be excluded in aetiological studies examining inflammation in Hodgkin lymphoma development, and that a diagnostic time window of appreciable length exists in many patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, many of whom have no other red-flag features.

Cardiovascular safety, cancer and Jak-inhibitors: Differences to be highlighted

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease whose natural history leads to articular and extra-articular damage. Both cardiovascular risk and malignancy risk results higher in RA patients, compared to general population. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) are oral targeted synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs) that disrupt cytokine cascade and exert anti-inflammatory effects by interfering with signaling through the JAK-STAT intracellular pathways. A recent RCT comparing tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily and anti-TNF in rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated an increased risk of MACE HR 1.33 and cancer HR 1.49 at a follow-up of 4 years. This has led the FDA to class warnings for tofacitinib, baricitinib and upadacitinib. Cumulative RCT data, RCT extension data demonstrated a safety profile for Jak inhibitors. Conflicting data results from real life registries; the different selectivity for JAKs (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and Tyk2) probably determines differences in efficacy and safety profiles among the members of this group which should actually be evaluated. In order to better understand the cardiovascular and neoplastic risk linked to these class of drugs, we aim to provide a literature review on existing evidence of the safety of Jak-Inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis.

Risk of Cancer in Connective Tissue Diseases in Northeastern Italy over 15 Years

Objective: To evaluate cancer risk among individuals with connective tissue disease (CTD) in Friuli Venezia Giulia, northern Italy. Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted based on data from health records available in the regional healthcare database. Demographic characteristics, hospital discharges, exemption from medical charges, drug prescriptions, were individually matched with data from the population-based cancer registry. Cancer risk was assessed in people diagnosed with the following diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), systemic sclerosis (SSc), polymyositis (PM), and dermatomyositis (DM). Results: In all, 2504 patients were followed for a total of 18,006 person-years (median follow-up: 6.8 years). After 5 and 10 years of follow-up, the cumulative cancer incidence was 2.6% and 8.5%, respectively. The most common cancers were breast (n = 34), lung (n = 24), colon–rectum–anus (n = 20), and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) (n = 20). Overall, no excess cancer risk was noted (SIR = 0.87), whereas the number of observed NHL cases was more than two-fold significantly higher than expected (SIR = 2.52). The subgroup analysis showed a higher risk of NHL among SS patients (SIR = 3.84) and SLE patients (SIR = 2.69). Conversely, the study population showed a decreased risk for breast cancers (SIR = 0.61) and corpus uteri (SIR = 0.21). Conclusions: The incidence of NHL was higher among patients with SS and SLE. Careful surveillance for hematological malignancies in these patients is recommended.

Use of Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs After Cancer Diagnosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Objective

There is no recommendation for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who developed cancer. We examined changes in the DMARDs prescription patterns associated with cancer diagnosis in RA patients.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of 2,161 RA patients who visited rheumatology clinic between January 2008 and February 2017 and found 40 patients who developed cancer during RA treatment. In these patients, we examined DMARDs prescription patterns before and right after cancer diagnosis and at recent outpatient clinic visits.

Results

Before cancer diagnosis, methotrexate (MTX)-combined conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) were most commonly prescribed (22, 55.0%) and biological DMARDs (biologics) in nine patients (22.5%). For cancer treatment, 19 patients received chemotherapy (including adjuvant chemotherapy) and 21 patients had surgery only. Right after cancer diagnosis, changes in the DMARDs prescription patterns were similar in discontinuation (13, 32.5%), switching (14, 35.0%), and maintenance (13, 32.5%). DMARDs were discontinued more frequently in the chemotherapy group (9/19, 47.4%) than the surgery only group (4/2, 19.0%) (p<0.05). Among the 13 patients who discontinued DMARDs, nine (69.2%) resumed DMARDs after a median of 5.5 months (interquartile range [IQR] 2.9, 18.3) due to arthritis flare. At a median of 4.6 years (IQR 3.3, 6.7) after cancer diagnosis, 25 patients were evaluated at recent outpatient clinic visits. Four patients received no DMARD, three MTX monotherapies, 11 csDMARDs combination therapies, and seven biologics.

Conclusion

A significant number of RA patients who developed cancer during RA treatment were still receiving DMARDs including biologics after cancer diagnosis.

Potential Cancer Risk in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Longitudinal Korean Population-Based Analysis

The potential link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cancer incidence needs to be validated due to inconsistent results between Asian and Western countries. We explored the long-term association of RA with the overall and organ-specific cancer incidence using nationwide population data. This longitudinal follow-up study (2002–2015) included 3070 patients with RA and 12,280 controls (1:4 propensity score-matched for sex, age, residence, and income) from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort database. A Cox proportional hazard model estimated the hazard ratio for malignancy following adjusting for covariates. Despite the similar overall cancer incidence between RA and control groups, differences in the incidence of organ-specific cancers were noted: the RA group had a 1.63-fold greater likelihood for lung cancer (95% confidence interval 1.11–2.40). In the sex-stratified subgroup analyses, the male RA patients exhibited higher odds of lung and thyroid cancer but a lower probability for colorectal cancer; no such associations were detected in either female patients with RA or age subgroups. In summary, the higher likelihood for lung cancer in Korean RA patients, especially thyroid and lung cancer in male RA patients, seems to be characteristic, which needs to be carefully monitored.

Risk of malignancy in rheumatoid arthritis patients initiating biologics: an historical propensity score matched cohort study within the French nationwide healthcare database

Objective

To compare the risk of malignancy between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating their first biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) and those continuing conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs).

Methods

Nine-year historical Propensity Score (PS) matched cohort study within the French national healthcare database (87% of the French population; ~57 million people), including adults RA without malignancy. Exposures started with the first use of any systemic treatment (csDMARDs and/or bDMARDs). Incident users of bDMARDs were matched on a dynamic PS to patients continuing csDMARDs. Their risk of malignancy was compared by Cox model.

Results

From 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2014, 83 706 patients with RA started their first systemic treatment (63 837 remained on csDMARDs and 19 869 initiated a bDMARD during follow-up). After dynamic PS matching, 19 727 bDMARD initiators were compared with 19 727 RA remaining on csDMARDs. They did not statistically differ in risk of overall malignancies (HR 0.99 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.14)), solid cancer (HR 0.95 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.11)), nor lymphoma (HR 1.35 (95% CI 0.72 to 2.53)). Results were similar when bDMARDs were given as monotherapy or in association with csDMARDs. Analyses restricted to patients starting TNF inhibitor as first bDMARD compared with matched RA remaining on csDMARDs, provided similar results (HR for overall malignancy 1.03 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.21)). Sensitivity analyses, varying carry-over periods (up to 5 years) to define risk periods, provided similar results.

Conclusions

In this historical cohort study within the French nationwide healthcare database, the risk of overall, solid or haematological malignancies did not significantly differ between patients with RA initiating bDMARD and those continuing csDMARDs.

Association between Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity and Risk of Ovarian Malignancy in Middle-Aged and Elderly Women

Objective

To investigate the risk of ovarian malignancy in middle-aged and elderly women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its correlation with disease activity.

Methods

219 middle-aged and elderly (age ≥ 40) female RA patients who were treated at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2019 to September 2020 were selected. Their general information such as age and medical history was collected. RA disease activity-related indicators include rheumatoid factor (RF), anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA), ESR, CRP, and ovarian malignancy risk-related indicators including alpha fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA125, CA199, and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) were detected. According to Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA), they were divided into a low-risk group (ROMA-low, premenopausal: ROMA ≤ 11.4%, postmenopausal: ROMA ≤ 29.9%) and a high-risk group (ROMA-high, premenopausal: ROMA > 11.4%, postmenopausal: ROMA > 29.9%) for ovarian malignancy. Meanwhile, according to the DAS28-ESR, they were divided into the general disease activity group (DAS28-ESR ≤ 5.1) and the high disease activity group (DAS28-ESR > 5.1). SPSS 25.0 software was used to compare the differences among groups and to analyze the correlation between ovarian malignancy risk and RA disease activity.

Results

Compared with the ROMA-low group, the levels of RF, ACCP, CDAI, SDAI, DAS28-ESR, and DAS28-CRP in the ROMA-high group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). HE4 and ROMA in the high disease activity group were significantly higher than general disease activity group (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that age (r = 0.472), RF (r = 0.221), ACPA (r = 0.156), CDAI (r = 0.226), SDAI (r = 0.221), DAS28-ESR (r = 0.254), DAS28-CRP (r = 0.208), medications (r = 0.189), and CA199 (r = 0.250) were correlated with ROMA (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that ESR (OR = 1.11), SDAI (OR = 1.02), DAS28-ESR (OR = 1.33), DAS28-CRP (OR = 1.26), and CA199 (OR = 1.03) were independent risk factors for high risk of ovarian malignancy (P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that CA199 is an effect modification factor for DAS28-ESR (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The risk of ovarian malignancy is significantly increased in middle-aged and elderly women with high disease activity with rheumatoid arthritis. In clinical, full attention should be paid to the risk of ovarian malignancy in this population. Screening in time, especially in patients with increased DAS28-ESR and CA199 at the same time, is needed.

Short- and longer-term cancer risks with biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs as used against rheumatoid arthritis in clinical practice

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the occurrence and relative risks of first-ever-incident non-cutaneous cancer overall and for 16 sites in patients with RA treated with biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs (b/tsDMARDs), by time since treatment start, attained age, and duration of active treatment.

METHODS

This is an observational nationwide and population-based cohort study of patients with RA (n = 69 308), treated with TNF inhibitors (TNFi; adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab) or other b/tsDMARDs (abatacept, rituximab, baricitinib, tofacitinib and tocilizumab) compared with RA patients not treated with b/tsDMARDs, and matched general population referents (n = 109 532), 2001-2018. The study was based on prospectively collected data from the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register and from other registers, linked to the national Swedish Cancer Register. Incidence rates and hazard ratios were estimated via Cox regression adjusted for co-morbidities and other health characteristics.

RESULTS

Based on 8633 incident cancers among RA patients, the overall relative risk of cancer with TNFi [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.0] was neither increased nor did it change with time since treatment start, duration of active treatment, or attained age, when compared with b/tsDMARD-naïve RA. For other b/tsDMARDs, we noted no consistent signal of increased overall risks (HRs ranged from 1.0 to 1.2), but there were statistically significant estimates above 1 for abatacept with 2-5 years of active treatment, for older age groups, and between several of the bDMARDs and urinary tract cancer.

CONCLUSION

TNFis, as used long term in clinical practice against RA, are not linked to increased risks for cancer overall. For other b/tsDMARDs, and for site-specific risks, our results are generally reassuring but contain signals that call for replication.

The five major autoimmune diseases increase the risk of cancer: epidemiological data from a large-scale cohort study in China

BACKGROUND

Cancer incidence and mortality have received critical attention during the long-term management of morbidities in patients with autoimmune diseases (AIDs). This study aimed to investigate and compare the risk of cancer associated with five major AIDs in a large-scale Chinese cohort.

METHODS

A total of 8,120 AID patients consecutively admitted to a national tertiary referral center in China were included and followed-up for 38,726.55 patient-years, including those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), systemic scleroderma (SSc), and idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM). Demographic data, cancer incidence, predilecting sites and cancer onset time were recorded and compared among the five AIDs.

RESULTS

Four hundred and thirty (5.3%) patients developed cancer. Their median age was 57.5 years and AID duration was 79.8 months. The estimated total standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of cancer in AIDs patients was 3.37, with the highest SIR observed in IIM (4.31), followed by RA (3.99), SSc (3.77), SS (2.88) and SLE (2.58). The increased SIR of cancers in AID patients showed a female predominance (female vs. male: 3.59 vs. 2.77) and younger patient involvement (age <50 vs. ≥50 years: 4.88 vs. 3.04). Patients with SLE had increased SIRs for developing hematologic malignancies and solid tumors located in the urinary bladder, corpus uteri and cervix uteri. Patients with SS had a significantly high SIR for developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Within 3 years of IIM diagnosis, 74.6% of the patients developed cancer and they had a high risk of ovarian cancer. RA was associated with a wide distribution of scancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, gynecologic, urinary tract, thyroid gland and lung cancers. SSc patients had increased SIRs for developing cervical uterine, lung, and breast cancers.

CONCLUSION

Patients with five major AIDs in China had an increased risk of developing cancer, with a predominance in women and younger patients, although cancer incidence, predilection sites and cancer onset time may vary greatly in each AID entity.

Neoplasm Risk in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated With Fostamatinib: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective: This study aimed to assess neoplasm risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with fostamatinib.

Methods: Studies were collected from electronic databases of OVID Medline, OVID EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science. We included studies that reported neoplasms in patients with RA treated with fostamatinib. Study selection was repeated by two reviewers based on the study selection criteria. Data were collected and methodological quality assessment was performed. Data were pooled using the Peto odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses of the fostamatinib dose, trial duration, neoplasm nature, and neoplasm-originating systems were conducted. A funnel plot was used to estimate publication bias, and sensitivity analysis was performed to test the robustness of the results.

Results: Seven trials involving 4,971 participants showing low to moderate risk of bias were included. Compared with the placebo, fostamatinib use was not associated with the risks of overall neoplasms (Peto OR = 2.62, 95%CI 0.97–7.10), malignant neoplasms (Peto OR = 3.08, 95%CI 0.96–9.91), or benign neoplasms (Peto OR = 1.71, 95%CI 0.26–11.36). Nevertheless, compared with the placebo, a longer duration of fostamatinib use had a higher risk of malignant neoplasms (Peto OR = 4.49, 95%CI 1.03–19.60) at 52 weeks. As for malignant neoplasms in the digestive system, lower doses of fostamatinib reduced the neoplasm risk (100 mg bid vs 150 mg qd: Peto OR = 0.06, 95%CI 0.01–0.59). Sensitivity analysis showed no significant differences in the effective trends, and no publication bias was found.

Conclusion: Fostamatinib is not associated with the risks of overall neoplasms as compared to placebo. Nevertheless, a longer duration of fostamatinib use may be associated with a risk of malignant neoplasms and higher doses of fostamatinib may increase malignant neoplasms in the digestive system. Further well-planned cohort studies with a larger study population are needed to elucidate these outcomes.

Systematic ReviewRegistration: PROSPERO (CRD42020202121).

Expression of PD-1, PD-L1 and PD-L2 in Lymphomas in Patients with Pre-Existing Rheumatic Diseases-A Possible Association with High Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity

Current research seeks to identify subgroups of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients responsive to PD-1 blocking agents. Whether patients with pre-existing rheumatic diseases might constitute such a subgroup is unknown. We determined intratumoral expression of PD-1 and its ligands in lymphoma patients with pre-existing rheumatic diseases. We included 215 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or Sjögren's syndrome with subsequent lymphoma and 74 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) controls without rheumatic disease. PD-1 and PD-ligand immunohistochemical markers were applied on tumor tissue microarrays. The number of PD-1+ tumor infiltrating leukocytes (TILs) and proportions of PD-L1+ and PD-L2+ tumor cells and TILs were calculated and correlated with clinical data. Expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells and TILs was highest in classical Hodgkin lymphoma and DLBCL. In DLBCLs, expression of PD-1 in TILs and PD-L1 in tumor cells was similar in RA, SLE and controls. In RA-DLBCL, high expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells was significantly more common in patients with the most severe RA disease and was associated with inferior overall survival in multivariable analysis.

Epstein‐Barr virus‐related diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma type methotrexate‐associated lymphoproliferative disorders presenting in the adrenal gland

Introduction

Case presentation

Conclusion

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Presenting as a Primary Pleural Mass: A Case Report and Literature Review

Primary pleural lymphoma is a rare type of lymphoma that accounts for only ​​0.3% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The rarity and nonspecific clinical presentation of primary pleural lymphomas pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. We present an atypical case of primary pleural lymphoma in an elderly patient without any associated pleuro-pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, or history of lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is one of the first described cases of a primary pleural lymphoma with such a presentation.

Lack of Increased Risk of Lymphoma with Thiopurine Therapy Regardless of Dose and Duration of Treatment in Japanese Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

BACKGROUND

Immunomodulator therapy (e.g., thiopurines) has been linked to an increased malignancy risk, in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), which increases with treatment duration, based on studies mainly in Caucasian patients. However, our previous real-world study, of Japanese patients with IBDs, indicated no overall increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with thiopurine treatment.

OBJECTIVES

This subanalysis investigated the influence of thiopurine IBD treatment dose and duration, on incidence of NHL in Japanese patients.

METHOD

The Medical Data Vision (MDV) claims database (17.8 million patients; April 2008-January 2018) was used to analyze incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of NHL, in eligible patients (≥1 diagnosis of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) and no malignancy at diagnosis or first prescription of a thiopurine. Age- and sex-adjusted IRRs and 95% confidence interval for NHL were calculated as the incident cases compared in the subgroups versus the overall IBD population.

RESULTS

Among 75,673 patients with IBDs, 103 cases of NHL were recorded. There was no overall increase in the risk of developing NHL among Japanese patients treated with thiopurines. The IRRs relative to the overall IBD population were 1.88, 1.42, and 0.38 for <1 year, 1-3 years, and ≥3 years of thiopurine treatment. There were no differences in NHL incidence when grouping patients by mean daily thiopurine dose prescribed, age, or disease subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Dose or duration of thiopurine treatment did not explain a lack of increased risk of NHL with thiopurine use in Japanese patients with IBDs.

Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis with immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders to regress spontaneously by the withdrawal of methotrexate and their clinical course: A retrospective, multicenter, case-control study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate clinical characteristics and time course of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients after methotrexate (MTX) discontinuation, in those who achieved spontaneous regression (SR).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from RA patients with LPDs obtained from eight institutions between 2000 and 2017 and compared clinical and pathological findings between SR and non-SR groups.

RESULTS

Among 232 RA patients with LPDs, 216 were treated with MTX at the onset of LPD and 144 (66.7%) achieved SR after MTX discontinuation. Higher MTX doses, high titers of anti-CCP antibodies (>13.5 U/mL), and lower LDH and soluble IL-2 receptor levels were associated with SR. Lymphocyte count was decreased at LPD onset and increased at 2 weeks after MTX discontinuation in the SR group. Epstein-Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous ulcer, reactive lymphoid hyperplasia and unclassifiable B-cell lymphoma, were more frequent in the SR than in the non-SR group. In multivariable analysis, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas was an independent predictive factor for non-SR. In the patients with SR, 73.9% achieved partial or complete regression as early as 2 weeks after MTX discontinuation.

CONCLUSION

SR and non-SR in RA patients with LPDs after MTX discontinuation were associated with certain clinical characteristics.

Clinicopathological characteristics of lymphoproliferative disorders in 232 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Japan: A retrospective, multicenter, descriptive study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinicopathological characteristics of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

In this multicenter case series, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of RA patients who were newly diagnosed as having LPDs with or without biopsy confirmation between 2000 and 2017 in eight hospitals in Japan.

RESULTS

We included 232 patients with LPDs. The median age was 67 years (interquartile range [IQR], 60-73 years), and 77.1% were female. At the time of LPD diagnosis, 94.8% and 62.6% of the patients were methotrexate users and in remission or had low RA disease activity, respectively; lymphadenopathy and extranodal involvement were present in 77.1% and 51.9%, respectively. Major extranodal sites were the lungs and oral/oropharyngeal mucosa. The most common LPD pathological subtype was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (40.5%), followed by classic Hodgkin lymphoma (10.8%), Epstein-Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (7.7%), and reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (6.2%). The clinical and laboratory characteristics varied across the pathological subtypes.

CONCLUSION

LPD occurred mainly in methotrexate users, while RA disease activity did not seem to be associated with LPD development. Although the clinical manifestations vary among pathological subtypes, manifestations of LPD in patients with RA can include lymphadenopathy, extranodal mass, and mucocutaneous ulcer.

PD-L1 expression is associated with the spontaneous regression of patients with methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorders

Background

Most patients with methotrexate‐associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX‐LPD) show diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) types. Patients with MTX‐LPD often have spontaneous remission after MTX discontinuation, but chemotherapeutic intervention is frequently required in patients with CHL‐type MTX‐LPD. In this study, we examined whether programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression levels were associated with the prognosis of MTX‐LPD after MTX discontinuation.

Methods

A total of 72 Japanese patients diagnosed with MTX‐LPD were clinicopathologically analyzed, and immunohistochemical staining of PD‐L1 was performed in 20 DLBCL‐type and 24 CHL‐type MTX‐LPD cases to compare with the clinical course.

Results

PD‐L1 was expressed in 5.0% (1/20) of patients with DLBCL‐type MTX‐LPD, whereas it was expressed in 66.7% (16/24) of the patients with CHL‐type MTX‐LPD in more than 51% of tumor cells. Most CHL‐type MTX‐LPD patients with high PD‐L1 expression required chemotherapy owing to exacerbations or relapses after MTX discontinuation. However, no significant differences in clinicopathologic findings at diagnosis were observed between PD‐L1 high‐ and low‐expression CHL‐type MTX‐LPD.

Conclusion

PD‐L1 expression was significantly higher in patients with CHL‐type than DLBCL‐type MTX‐LPD, suggesting the need for chemotherapy in addition to MTX discontinuation in CHL‐type MTX‐LPD patients to achieve complete remission. No association was observed between PD‐L1 expression levels and clinical findings at diagnosis, suggesting that PD‐L1 expression in tumor cells influences the pathogenesis of CHL‐type MTX‐LPD after MTX discontinuation.

All-cause and cause-specific mortality of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Korea: A nation-wide population-based study

OBJECTIVE

To compare all-cause and cause-specific mortality between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients versus the general population of Korea.

METHODS

A nationally representative RA population aged≥40 years was identified from Korea National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) database. We estimated age- and sex-adjusted all-cause and cause-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), comparing RA patients to the general population. Subgroup analyses were done by sex, age group, calendar year, and biologics use.

RESULTS

We identified 79,352 RA patients with 6404 deaths during 2011-2016. The all-cause SMR [95% CI] of RA patients compared to the general population was 1.53 [1.49-1.56]. The top five causes of death were cancer (19.5%), respiratory disease (19.1%), cardiovascular disease (18.8%), systemic rheumatic diseases (9.5%, 9.1% due to RA), and infection (6.1%). Cause-specific SMRs [95% CI] were 0.95 [0.90-1.01] for cancer, 3.34 [3.15-3.52] for respiratory disease, 1.26 [1.18-1.33] for cardiovascular disease, 3.41 [3.08-3.75] for infection, and 4.88 [3.10-6.65] for non-RA systemic rheumatic disease. The SMR of RA population was slightly higher among men than women, and highest in their 60s and 70s. The yearly SMR increased from 1.10 [1.01-1.18] in 2011 to 1.85 [1.75-1.95] in 2016 due to population aging and comorbidity accumulation. Users of biologics showed a higher SMR than non-users (1.82 [1.69-1.96] vs. 1.50 [1.46-1.54]), due to higher RA activity, and more comorbidities despite a younger mean age.

CONCLUSION

RA patients in Korea experienced 1.5-fold increase in all-cause mortality compared to the general population. Except for cancer, the top five causes of death were associated with excess mortality among RA patients. RA-associated mortality was largely determined by age, RA activity, and comorbidity status.

A systematic assessment of the epidemiologic literature regarding an association between acetaminophen exposure and cancer

Introduced in the 1950s, acetaminophen is one of the most widely used antipyretics and analgesics worldwide. In 1999, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed the epidemiologic studies of acetaminophen and the data were judged to be "inadequate" to conclude that it is carcinogenic. In 2019 the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment initiated a review process on the carcinogenic hazard potential of acetaminophen. To inform this review process, the authors performed a comprehensive literature search and identified 136 epidemiologic studies, which for most cancer types suggest no alteration in risk associated with acetaminophen use. For 3 cancer types, renal cell, liver, and some forms of lymphohematopoietic, some studies suggest an increased risk; however, multiple factors unique to acetaminophen need to be considered to determine if these results are real and clinically meaningful. The objective of this publication is to analyze the results of these epidemiologic studies using a framework that accounts for the inherent challenge of evaluating acetaminophen, including, broad population-wide use in multiple disease states, challenges with exposure measurement, protopathic bias, channeling bias, and recall bias. When evaluated using this framework, the data do not support a causal association between acetaminophen use and cancer.

Lymphoma complicating rheumatoid arthritis: results from a French case-control study

Objectives

To study the characteristics of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) or Hodgkin lymphoma complicating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify RA-related factors associated with their occurrence.

Methods

A multicentre case–control study was performed in France. Cases were patients with RA fulfilling ACR-EULAR 2010 criteria in whom B-cell NHL or Hodgkin lymphoma developed after the diagnosis of RA. For each case, 2 controls were assigned at random from the ESPOIR cohort and were matched on age at lymphoma diagnosis (cases)/age at the 10-year follow-up visit in the cohort (controls). Case and control characteristics were compared to identify parameters associated with the occurrence of lymphoma.

Results

54 cases were included and matched to 108 controls. Lymphomas were mostly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, n=27, 50.0%). On immunochemistry, 4 of 27 (14.8%) lymphoma cases were positive for Epstein-Barr virus. On univariate analysis, factors associated with the occurrence of lymphoma were male sex (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.7 to 6.7), positivity for ACPA (OR 5.1, 95% CI 2.0 to 15.7) and rheumatoid factor (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.6 to 12.2), and erosions on radiographs (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.7 to 8.3) and DAS28 (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.7), both at the time of matching. Methotrexate, TNF blockers and a number of previous biologics were not associated with the occurrence of lymphoma. On multivariable analysis, erosions and DAS28 remained significantly associated with increased risk of lymphoma.

Conclusion

Lymphomas complicating RA are mostly DLBCL. Risk of lymphoma in patients with RA was increased with markers of disease activity and severity, which supports the paradigm of a continuum between autoimmunity and lymphomagenesis in RA.

Long-term exposure to monoclonal anti-TNF is associated with an increased risk of lymphoma in BAFF-transgenic mice

The impact of treatment on the risk of lymphoma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unclear. Here, we aimed to assess if the risk of lymphoma differs according to the type of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi), comparing monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies to the soluble TNF receptor. We used B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF)-transgenic (Tg) mice as a model of autoimmunity-associated lymphoma. Six-month-old BAFF-Tg mice were treated with TNFi for 12 months. Histological examination of the spleen, assessment of the cellular composition of the spleen by flow cytometry and assessment of B cell clonality were performed at euthanasia. Crude mortality and incidence of lymphoma were significantly higher in mice treated with monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies compared to both controls and mice treated with the soluble TNF receptor, even at a high dose. Flow cytometry analysis revealed decreased splenic macrophage infiltration in mice treated with monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies. Overall, this study demonstrates, for the first time, that a very prolonged treatment with monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies increase the risk of lymphoma in B cell-driven autoimmunity. These data suggest a closer monitoring for lymphoma development in patients suffering from B cell-driven autoimmune disease with long-term exposure to monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies.

Epstein-Barr virus -related lymphoma in rheumatoid arthritis: Implications for long-term usage of immunosuppressive drugs and review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease where methotrexate is widely used as first-line therapy. The combination of RA and methotrexate are associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. RA patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have impaired T-lymphocyte function, thus allowing an overgrowth of EBV-positive lymphoblastoid cells. We examined the association of EBV with lymphoproliferative disorders in immunosuppressed RA patients, particularly those treated with methotrexate.

METHODS

We reported two cases of RA patient with long-term methotrexate treatment who subsequently developed EBV-positive lymphoproliferative disorder, followed by a review of the relevant literature.

RESULTS

Compared with normal population, RA patients have a higher risk of lymphoma with diffused large B-cell lymphoma the most common subtype. Methotrexate withdrawal can lead to lymphoma regression. Other biological therapies, such as abatacept and tocilizumab, are not associated with increased EBV-positive lymphoma diagnosis in RA patients.

CONCLUSION

The association between EBV, lymphoma and methotrexate highlight the need to consider reducing or stopping methotrexate in patients that have had stable RA for many years. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Correlation Between Level of Interleukin-37 and Rheumatoid Arthritis Progression

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects joints. Interleukin-37 (IL-37) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that is known to suppress immune response and inflammation. The objective of this study is to evaluate the correlation between level of IL-37 and RA progression using the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS-28).

Methods

A total of 87 RA patients were separated into 4 groups based on the DAS28, referred to as the remission, mild, moderate and severe groups. 18 healthy volunteers were also included. Serum level of IL-37 and IL-37 mRNA expression level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in each individual participant as well as IL-37 mRNA expression level in synovial cells were assessed to explore their correlation with RA progression.

Results

Serum level of IL-37 and IL-37 mRNA expression levels in both PBMCs and synovial cells were all positively correlated with the severity of RA as reflected by the DAS28. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed area under curve (AUC) values of 1, 0.5262 and 0.7789 for the three parameters.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that serum IL-37 level and mRNA expression levels of IL-37 in PBMCs and synovial cells are correlated with the severity of RA in a Chinese population.

Characteristics of Lymphoma in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Lymphoma is a dreaded complication of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD]. Knowledge about lymphoma in patients with IBD is limited to epidemiological data and the description of risk factors. We performed a systematic review to describe the clinical characteristics and prognosis of lymphoma in patients with IBD.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched up to June 1, 2020. All published clinical characteristics of lymphoma occurring in patients with IBD were collected.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included. A total of 589 lymphomas were described in patients with IBD. As seen in de novo lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL] was the most common histological subtype [83.9%]. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [DLBCL] and follicular lymphoma were the most well-represented NHL in patients with IBD [30% and 13% respectively]. Two main differences were observed in comparison with de novo lymphoma: primary intestinal lymphoma [PIL] represented a large proportion of lymphoma in patients with IBD [22-75%] whereas mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue [MALT] lymphoma was under-represented. Epstein-Barr virus [EBV]-positive status was observed in a large proportion of tumours [44-75%]. Survival data of lymphoma in patients with IBD were similar to those of de novo lymphoma.

DISCUSSION

This systematic review first highlights that PIL [especially DLBCL subtype] is significantly more frequent in patients with IBD and represents the most common entity. Conversely, MALT lymphoma is extremely rare in the IBD population. However, the overall quality of the evidence is low. Further studies are required to better define lymphoma characteristics in patients with IBD.

Associations of serum cytokines and chemokines with the risk of incident cancer in a prospective rheumatoid arthritis cohort

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess whether serum cytokine/chemokine concentrations predict incident cancer in RA patients.

METHODS

Data from cancer-free enrollees in the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis (VARA) Registry were linked to a national VA oncology database and the National Death Index (NDI) to identify incident cancers. Seventeen serum cytokines/chemokines were measured from enrollment serum and an overall weighted cytokine/chemokine score (CK score) was calculated. Associations of cytokines/chemokines with all-site, lung, and lymphoproliferative cancers were assessed in Cox regression models accounting for relevant covariates including age, sex, RA disease activity, and smoking.

RESULTS

In 1216 patients, 146 incident cancers (42 lung and 23 lymphoproliferative cancers) occurred over 10,072 patient-years of follow-up with a median time of 4.6 years from enrollment (cytokine/chemokine measurement) to cancer incidence. In fully adjusted models, CK score was associated with a higher risk of all-site (aHR 1.32, 95% CI 1.01-1.71, p < 0.001), lung (aHR 1.81, 1.40-2.34, p = 0.001), and lung/lymphoproliferative (aHR 1.54 [1.35-1.75], p < 0.001) cancer. The highest quartile of CK score was associated with a higher risk of all-site (aHR 1.91, 0.96-3.81, p = 0.07; p-trend = 0.005), lung (aHR 8.18, 1.63-41.23, p = 0.01; p-trend < 0.001), and lung/lymphoproliferative (aHR 4.56 [1.84-11.31], p = 0.001; p-trend < 0.001) cancer. Thirteen of 17 individual analytes were associated with incident cancer risk.

CONCLUSION

Elevated cytokine/chemokine concentrations are predictive of future cancer in RA patients, particularly lung and lymphoproliferative cancers. These results suggest that the measurement of circulating cytokines/chemokines could be informative in cancer risk stratification and could provide insight into future cancer prevention strategies in RA, and possibly individuals without RA.

Effect of janus kinase inhibitors and methotrexate combination on malignancy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease. The combination therapy of methotrexate (MTX) and Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) is commonly used. Patients with RA are at increased risk of malignancy, however, it remains unclear whether the combination therapy is associated with a higher risk.

Objective

To assess the malignancy risk among patients with RA receiving combination therapy of JAKi and MTX compared to MTX alone.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane and Embase were thoroughly searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in patients with RA receiving JAKi and MTX, from inception to July 2020. Primary endpoints were malignancy events, Non melanomatous skin cancer (NMSC) and malignancy excluding NMSC and secondary endpoints were serious adverse events (SAE), deaths. Risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI were calculated using the Mantel–Haenszel random-effect method.

Results

659 publications were screened and 13 RCTs with a total of 6911 patients were included in the analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in malignancy [RR = 1.42; 95% CI (0.59, 3.41)], neither NMSC [RR = 1.44 (0.36, 5.76)] nor malignancies excluding NMSC [RR = 1.12 (0.40, 3.13)]. No statistically significant difference between the two groups for SAE [RR = 1.15 (0.90, 1.47)] and deaths [RR = 1.99 (0.75, 5.27)] was found.

Conclusion

The adjunction of JAKi to MTX is not associated with an increased risk of malignancy when compared to MTX alone. There is no increased risk of SAE and deaths when compared to MTX alone in patients with RA.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13317-021-00153-5.

Lymphoma risks in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biological drugs-a Swedish cohort study of risks by time, drug and lymphoma subtype

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the association between biological DMARDs (bDMARDs; overall and by drug) as used in RA and the risk of malignant lymphomas including subtypes.

METHODS

By linking nationwide Swedish registers we identified cohorts of patients with RA initiating treatment with a bDMARD (n = 16 392), bDMARD-naïve (n = 55 253), an age- and sex-matched general population comparator cohort (n = 229 047), and all incident lymphomas 2001-16. We used Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) of lymphoma taking calendar period and other factors into account.

RESULTS

There were 82 lymphomas among the bDMARD-treated patients with RA, crude incidence rate 76/100 000 person-years, and 310 lymphomas among the bDMARD-naïve patients with RA, crude incidence rate 90/100 000 person-years. This resulted in an adjusted HR (aHR) associated with bDMARD treatment (vs not) of 1.08 (95% CI: 0.83, 1.41). The corresponding aHR for bDMARD-treated and bDMARD-naïve vs the general population was 1.65 (95% CI: 1.31, 2.08) and 1.56 (95% CI: 1.37, 1.78) respectively. Restricting follow-up period to after 2006, the aHR of lymphoma for patients with RA starting a first bDMARD vs bDMARD-naïve was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.47, 1.00), and for bDMARD treated vs patients with RA switching from one conventional synthetic DMARDs to another, aHR was 0.46 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.73). There were no signals of different risks with any particular TNF inhibitor (TNFi) agent. We found no different lymphoma subtype pattern following bDMARD therapy.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with bDMARDs, including both TNFi and non-TNFi bDMARDs, does not further increase the lymphoma risk in RA; instead, bDMARD treatment may actually reduce the excess lymphoma risk in RA.

Trends of lymphoma incidence in US veterans with rheumatoid arthritis, 2002-2017

OBJECTIVE

Past epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated a link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the incidence of lymphoma and it has been posited that high systemic inflammatory activity is a major risk determinant of lymphomagenesis. Given advances in the therapeutic armamentarium for RA management in recent years, the resulting lower level of disease activity could have led to a decline in lymphoma incidence in patients with RA. This study examined recent trends in lymphoma incidence in US veterans with RA.

METHODS

Patients with RA were identified in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse. Lymphoma incidence was identified through the end of 2018 from the VA Central Cancer Registry and compared among patients diagnosed during 2003-2005, 2006-2008, 2009-2011 and 2012-2014.

RESULTS

Among persons diagnosed with RA during 2003-2005, the incidence of lymphoma in the next 6 years was 2.0 per 1000 person-years. There was a steady decline in lymphoma incidence during the corresponding 6 years following diagnosis in the subsequent three cohorts, with a rate of 1.5 per 1000 person-years in the 2012-2014 cohort (incidence relative to that in the 2003-2005 cohort=0.79 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.1)). There was no similar decline in lymphoma incidence in VA patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

CONCLUSION

We observed a decline in lymphoma incidence in recent years among American veterans with RA. Further studies are needed to evaluate the specific factors driving this decline.

Identification of novel biomarkers and candidate small molecule drugs in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis based on bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput data

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are two major types of joint diseases. The present study aimed to identify hub genes involved in the pathogenesis and further explore the potential treatment targets of RA and OA.

Methods: The gene expression profile of GSE12021 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Total 31 samples (12 RA, 10 OA and 9 NC samples) were used. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RA versus NC, OA versus NC and RA versus OA groups were screened using limma package. We also verified the DEGs in GSE55235 and GSE100786. Functional annotation and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network construction of OA‐ and RA‐specific DEGs were performed. Finally, the candidate small molecules as potential drugs to treat RA and OA were predicted in CMap database.

Results: 165 up-regulated and 163 down-regulated DEGs between RA and NC samples, 73 up-regulated and 293 down-regulated DEGs between OA and NC samples, 92 up-regulated and 98 down-regulated DEGs between RA and OA samples were identified. Immune response and TNF signaling pathway were significantly enriched pathways for RA‐ and OA‐specific DEGs, respectively. The hub genes were mainly associated with ‘Primary immunodeficiency’ (RA vs. NC group), ‘Ribosome’ (OA vs. NC group), and ‘Chemokine signaling pathway’ (RA vs. OA group). Arecoline and Cefamandole were the most promising small molecule to reverse the RA and OA gene expression.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest new insights into the underlying pathogenesis of RA and OA, which may improve the diagnosis and treatment of these intractable chronic diseases.

The risk of malignancy in patients with secukinumab-treated psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: analysis of clinical trial and postmarketing surveillance data with up to five years of follow-up

BACKGROUND

Data on the use of biologic therapy and malignancy risk are inconsistent due to limited long-term robust studies.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the malignancy risk in patients with secukinumab-treated psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS

This integrated safety analysis from both the secukinumab clinical trial programme and postmarketing safety surveillance data included any patient receiving at least one approved dose of secukinumab with a maximum of 5 years of follow-up. Safety analyses evaluated the rate of malignancy using exposure-adjusted incidence rates [EAIR; incidence rates per 100 patient treatment-years (PTY)]. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were reported using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database as a reference population. Crude incidence of malignancy was also reported using postmarketing surveillance data.

RESULTS

Safety data from 49 clinical trials with secukinumab-treated patients were included: 10 685 patients with psoriasis, 2523 with PsA and 1311 with AS. Across indications over a 5-year period, the EAIR of malignancy was 0·85 per 100 PTY [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·74-0·98] in secukinumab-treated patients, corresponding to 204 patients per 23 908 PTY. Overall, the observed vs. expected number of malignancies from secukinumab clinical trial data were comparable, as indicated by an SIR of 0·99 (95% CI 0·82-1·19) across indications. The estimated crude cumulative incidence reporting rate per 100 PTY for malignancy was 0·27 in the postmarketing surveillance data across indications with a cumulative exposure of 285 811 PTY.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large safety analysis, the risk of malignancy was low for up to 5 years of secukinumab treatment. These data support the long-term use of secukinumab in these indications.