Humira immunomodulators increased cancer risk

[my little penguin]

Results: Compared with the general population, patients receiving adalimumab monotherapy did not have a greater than expected incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) or other cancers, whereas those receiving combination therapy had a greater than expected incidence of malignancies other than NMSC (standardized incidence ratio, 3.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66–5.10) and of NMSC (standardized incidence ratio, 4.59; 95% CI, 2.51–7.70). Compared with patients receiving adalimumab monotherapy, those patients receiving combination therapy had an increased risk of malignancy other than NMSC (relative risk, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.07–7.44) and of NMSC (relative risk, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.08–11.06).

Conclusions: In patients with CD, the incidence of malignancy with adalimumab monotherapy was not greater than that of the general population. Co-administration of immunomodulator therapy and adalimumab was associated with an increased risk of NMSC and other cancers.

From
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/823003?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=185734DZ


Increased Risk of Malignancy With Adalimumab Combination Therapy, Compared With Monotherapy, for Crohn's Disease
Mark T. Osterman, William J. Sandborn, Jean–Frederic Colombel, Anne M. Robinson, Winnie Lau, Bidan Huang, Paul F. Pollack, Roopal B. Thakkar, James D. LewisDisclosures
Gastroenterology. 2014;146(4):941-949.

 

[theOcean]

My GI always presented this to me as though it was a 10:10000 risk of cancer with just Humira, and when in combination with an immunosuppressant it was 10:1000.

There's also a greater chance of it when you're male as opposed to female. That said, I haven't run into anyone personally who's had any issues with the two, aside from getting sick from having their immune system suppressed. I personally never had problems. That you're also constantly getting monitored via blood tests also makes me feel much safer about it.

 

[Orchid]

This isn't shocking; in order to be prescribed Azathioprine or Mercaptopurine in America you are required to sign a release from your doctor that says "The risks and benefits of therapy have been explained to me and I understand them." Which includes skin cancer and lymphoma!

 

[toota]

oooh just few days I started humira I did not know that

 

[theOcean]

Like I mentioned up above: you should be getting regular blood tests while on Humira, so they would detect if there's anything wrong and if you need to be taken off the medication. Try not to worry too much!

 

[toota]

he told me weekly he will see my my dr to see how is humira going on with me

 

[theOcean]

That's really good, then. You should be in safe hands.

 

[toota]

thank you I hope that

 

[Dan919]

How often do you guys get blood tests done? I started Humira in March and my next appointment is late May.

 

[theOcean]

Originally, I would get one blood test a week for the first month. Then I just got it monthly, and after half a year my GI let me just get blood tests every other month.

 

[RippMama]

Huh. My GI hasn't done a single blood test, and I've been on it for 8 months. And now I've had this ridiculously painful sore throat for more than 2 weeks, and I'm wondering why no one has ordered any blood work!!!

 

[theOcean]

Call and mention it to your GI! And maybe see a GP about the sore throat, if you can (and feel you need to). I hope you're feeling better soon!