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Carol Eustice

Biologic Drugs Not Tied to Increased Malignancy Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

By , About.com GuideSeptember 7, 2012

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For some time, there have been questions and concerns about the potential development of malignancies in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologic drugs. According to results published in the September 5, 2012 issue of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), pooled results from more than 60 randomized controlled trials did not find a statistically significant increased risk in any type of cancer among patients who used biologic drugs for at least 6 months compared to treatment with traditional DMARDs or placebo.

The findings are significant because there has been conflicting data regarding the use of TNF blockers and an increase in certain malignancies. While the meta-analysis reported in JAMA (which included trials for Humira, Orencia, anakinra, Cimzia, Enbrel, Simponi, Remicade, Rituxan, and Actemra) is significant, researchers point out that there is a need for more systematic reviews of observational studies to establish long-term risk. The effect on patients with a history of cancer or those with cancer risk factors also is unknown at this time.

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Comments
September 7, 2012 at 10:15 pm
(1) Capt Vlad says:

Yes, regretfully such a situation still exist. even a lot of clever people worldwide are working with this problem, proper confirmed effect of different methods is unknown at this time yet.

September 12, 2012 at 3:16 pm
(2) Anna Fiorilli says:

Hi, just had a different kind of question, that someone tyold me about, it is the drug that was used a very very long time ago, was hoping that I can get someone to tell me if it is ok to muse, it is Frankensence (not sure I spelled it correctly), but she says it is much better than the drugs from a Pharmacy, and she says that Pharmacy means Poison in Greek, now I didn’t want to tell her that she must be out of her mind, because she is an Autistic person that thinks different about things, just thought that I’d comment about the drugs for treatments! I hope that this what she mentioned isn’t anything bad!! Thank You!! Sincerely, ~Anna~

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