Study Explores Risk of Upper GI and Blood Cancers in People with AS

2/12/2024

According to a recent study, people living with spondyloarthritis may face an increased risk for upper gastrointestinal and hematologic cancer. Researchers in South Korea sought out to assess the risk of cancer in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (also known as radiographic axial spondyloarthritis) and other types of spondyloarthritis.

The researchers used data from the Korea National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort database. They identified 1796 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 7184 age- and sex-matched controls.

The researchers found that cancer developed in 168 of the 1796 patients with AS (9.3%). After adjusting for confounding factors (i.e., variables that may lead to false conclusions), the risk of cancer was not significantly increased in patients with AS compared to controls.

However, the risk of upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer and hematologic cancer was significantly higher in patients with AS than in those in the control group. The risk of upper GI cancer was high in female patients, while the increased risk of hematologic malignancy (i.e., blood cancer) was associated with male patients.

There were no significant differences in the risk of other major cancers between the two groups.

The researchers noted that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for AS may have contributed to the increased risk of upper GI cancer. They also acknowledged some limitations of the study. For example, the data was collected before a new system was used to track rare and hard-to-treat diseases. Second, the analysis didn’t include data that could have been used to measure AS disease activity, such as blood test results.

Overall, the researchers concluded that patients with AS have an increased risk of upper GI cancer and hematologic malignancy, but not of other major cancers. The researchers asserted that though more studies are needed, these results underscore the need for active cancer screening, such as gastrointestinal endoscopy and blood tests, for people living with spondyloarthritis.

Resources:

1. Rheumatology – Cancer risks in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and the effects of biologic agents: a population-based study
2. National Library of Medicine – Malignancy in ankylosing spondylitis: a cross-sectional analysis of a large population database
3. BMC Rheumatology – Malignancy in ankylosing spondylitis: a cross-sectional analysis of a large population database