Study indicates risk of Skin cancer due to rheumatoid drugs

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A popular class of rheumatoid arthritis drugs may slightly increase skin cancer risk but not the risk of other cancers, a “reassuring” study finds.

Cimzia, Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, and Simponi all inhibit a natural protein called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa). TNFa plays a major role in arthritis. It also plays a major role in protecting the body from infections and cancer.

The clinical trials that led to the drugs’ approval showed no sign of increased cancer risk. But cancer takes a long time to develop. Worries remained that as time went on, a cancer risk would appear, says University of Miami rheumatologist Ozlem Pala, MD.

A 2006 report in the *Journal of the American Medical Association* found evidence of increased cancers and serious infections in patients taking anti-TNF drugs. But later studies failed to confirm the cancer risk.

“We are more or less sure now we won’t see a really big increased risk of cancer with these medicines,” Pala tells WebMD. “It is definitely better than what we were afraid of. But we still have to be really cautious about the possibility of cancer risk [in patients on TNF inhibitors].”

Ref and Read more: http://www.cbs47.tv/webmd/rheumatoid/story/Rheumatoid-Arthritis-Drugs-May-Have-Small-Skin/E84Yr_1v2Uqp8eM1qqd1BQ.cspx

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