Cancer Incidence Increased for People With Multiple Sclerosis
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2024 -- Cancer incidence is increased overall in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), with considerable differences depending on cancer type, age, and sex, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in Neurology.
Chloe Pierret, from Rennes University in France, and colleagues conducted a 10-year nationwide retrospective matched cohort study (2012 to 2021) using data from the national French administrative health care database to examine the time to first incident cancer among PwMS and a matched sample from the general population (matched in a 1:4 ratio). Participants had no history of cancer in the three years before inclusion.
The researchers found that cancer incidence was 799 per 100,000 person-years among 140,649 PwMS and 736 per 100,000 person-years among 562,596 matched controls. There was a small overall risk increase for PwMS (hazard ratio, 1.06), mainly among women (hazard ratio, 1.08). There was variation observed in risk by cancer type, with lower risk for prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer (hazard ratios, 0.80, 0.91, and 0.90, respectively), and higher risk for bladder, brain, and cervical cancer in PwMS (hazard ratios, 1.71, 1.68, and 1.24, respectively). PwMS younger than 55 years had higher cancer risk (hazard ratio, 1.20), but the risk decreased for those aged 65 years and older (hazard ratio, 0.89); this trend was consistent across cancer locations. Fewer PwMS than controls were screened (all programs), with a greater difference seen among those aged 65 years and older.
"Cancer incidence was increased in PwMS compared with the general population but varied greatly depending on cancer type, age, and sex," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Read this next
Potentially Inappropriate Medications Linked to Frailty at Cancer Diagnosis
FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2025 -- For patients with newly diagnosed cancer, an increasing number of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), as identified by the Geriatric Oncology...
One in 10 Undergoing Early Cancer Surgery Have New Persistent Opioid Use
MONDAY, Sept. 8, 2025 -- More than one in 10 veterans undergoing surgery for early-stage cancer develop new persistent opioid use, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in...
Healthy Plant-Based Diet May Cut Burden of Multimorbidity of Cancer and Cardiometabolic Diseases
MONDAY, Sept. 8, 2025 -- Among middle-aged and older adults, a healthy plant-based diet may reduce the burden of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases, according to a study...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.