Cancer risks with biological therapies for MS

Key clinical point: Cancer risks with natalizumab and rituximab in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are similar to the general population, whereas there is a possible modest increase in risk with fingolimod.

Major finding: Adjusting for demography, previous cancer, and comorbidities, the risk of invasive cancer was similar or slightly lower for natalizumab (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.57-1.77) and rituximab (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.54-1.32) compared with the general population. There was a possibly higher risk for fingolimod compared with the general population (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 0.98-2.38) and rituximab (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.00-2.84).

Study details: A Swedish register-based cohort study included 6,136 patients with MS and 37,801 non-MS individuals from the general population.

Disclosures: The study was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute award. Johan Askling, Anna Fogdell-Hahn, Jan Hillert, Jan Lycke, Petra Nilsson, Magnus Vrethem, Tomas Olsson and Fredrik Piehl reported ties with one or more pharmaceutical companies. The remaining authors declared no conflicts of interest. 

Citation: Alping P et al. Ann Neurol. 2020 Feb 13. doi: 10.1002/ana.25701.

Key clinical point: Cancer risks with natalizumab and rituximab in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are similar to the general population, whereas there is a possible modest increase in risk with fingolimod.

Major finding: Adjusting for demography, previous cancer, and comorbidities, the risk of invasive cancer was similar or slightly lower for natalizumab (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.57-1.77) and rituximab (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.54-1.32) compared with the general population. There was a possibly higher risk for fingolimod compared with the general population (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 0.98-2.38) and rituximab (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.00-2.84).

Study details: A Swedish register-based cohort study included 6,136 patients with MS and 37,801 non-MS individuals from the general population.

Disclosures: The study was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute award. Johan Askling, Anna Fogdell-Hahn, Jan Hillert, Jan Lycke, Petra Nilsson, Magnus Vrethem, Tomas Olsson and Fredrik Piehl reported ties with one or more pharmaceutical companies. The remaining authors declared no conflicts of interest. 

Citation: Alping P et al. Ann Neurol. 2020 Feb 13. doi: 10.1002/ana.25701.

Key clinical point: Cancer risks with natalizumab and rituximab in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are similar to the general population, whereas there is a possible modest increase in risk with fingolimod.

Major finding: Adjusting for demography, previous cancer, and comorbidities, the risk of invasive cancer was similar or slightly lower for natalizumab (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.57-1.77) and rituximab (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.54-1.32) compared with the general population. There was a possibly higher risk for fingolimod compared with the general population (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 0.98-2.38) and rituximab (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.00-2.84).

Study details: A Swedish register-based cohort study included 6,136 patients with MS and 37,801 non-MS individuals from the general population.

Disclosures: The study was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute award. Johan Askling, Anna Fogdell-Hahn, Jan Hillert, Jan Lycke, Petra Nilsson, Magnus Vrethem, Tomas Olsson and Fredrik Piehl reported ties with one or more pharmaceutical companies. The remaining authors declared no conflicts of interest. 

Citation: Alping P et al. Ann Neurol. 2020 Feb 13. doi: 10.1002/ana.25701.