The FDA has received 30 reports of cancer in children under the age of 18 who had been treated for JIA with anti-TNF drugs along with other medications, such as methotrexate, or similar immunosuppressant drugs.

Nearly 50% of the reports state the patients developed Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The other reports indicate development of melanoma, leukemia and solid organ cancers.

Besides rheumatoid arthritis, TNF blockers are used to treat psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, as well as other diseases. TNF blockers are know to result in inflammation and weakening of the immune system.

The manufacturers of these drugs have been directed by the FDA to provide information about all TNF blocker recipients who have developed cancer, and in some cases to track cancer reports for 10 years. The FDA has also requested the assistance of medical professionals and patients in reporting any side effects from TNF blockers through the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.

Originally posted 2008-06-06 22:25:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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British researchers report in the July 17 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine about the case of a 69 year old female ex-smoker who was being treated for Crohn’s disease with anti-TNF medications. During this time she developed lung cancer. After stopping the medication, the researchers discovered that the cancer disappeared.

A theory being considered is that the woman, who had been a heavy smoker for 35 years, had an immune system that kept the cancer in check. But the anti-TNF treatments may have weakened her immune system which allowed the cancer to develop.

According to co-author Jack Satsangi, professor of gastroenterology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, the woman’s lung cancer “was expected to be fatal within months.” After stopping the anti-TNF treatments “the cancer has completely regressed – and she is health more than two years after.”

“This is most remarkable, and adds to the concerns regarding the use of these agents, and we do not use these drugs in patients with heavy smoking histories,” Satsangi said.

Researchers have seen an association between TNF medications and lung cancer, particularly in ex-smokers. There are also concerns about these drugs and the development of other cancers, such as lymphoma.

“There is an underlying concern about the use of these drugs and the possible increase of certain kinds of cancer,” said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. “This report raises the awareness that doctors and patients have to have in using these drugs. We certainly need to be more vigilant about lung cancer in patients who get these treatments.”

Originally posted 2008-07-17 23:01:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Spanish researchers who are presenting their research at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting in San Francisco say their studies do not support that conclusion.

The researchers, from the Fundacion Espanola de Reumatologia in Madrid, Spain based their findings on two studies which used health data extracted from two Spanish databases of patients.

The first study involved almost 4,500 people who had been taking anti-TNF drugs between 2001 and 2007. The second study included data collected between 1999 and 2005 on 800 people with rheumatoid arthritis who were not taking anti_TNFs.

Ultimately they determined there were only 70 cases of cancer among those that were taking the drugs compared to 29 cases among those that did not take the drugs.

“Despite foreseen fears, blocking the tumor necrosis factor does not make patients more prone to develop cancer,” said Dr. Loreto Carmona of the Fundacion Espanola de Reumatologia.

Originally posted 2008-10-27 12:50:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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