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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 The woman had been diagnosed with lung disease (not cancer) in 1999. In 2000, she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which was then treated with TNF medications -- first Remicade, then Humira. In 2006, she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Her physicians discontinued treatment with Humira, but continued on methotrexate, which is from another class of drugs. The woman did not undergo surgery for her cancer or receive radiation or chemotherapy. In addition, no other biologic drugs were given to treat her lung cancer, the researchers report.
Even so, by April 2007 a scan of her lungs found no trace of the cancer.
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"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.
The association of TNF medications with lung cancer has been seen before, the authors note. The development of lung cancer among people taking these medications is particularly worrisome among ex-smokers. In fact, Satsangi's group has seen three such cases among people older than 65.
Satsangi's team believes that ex-smokers and people with a history of lung disease taking these medications should be carefully monitored, especially those aged 65 and older.
Lichtenfeld agreed that there have been concerns about the use of these drugs and the development of cancers, particularly lymphoma.
The new report implies that the woman's immune system was keeping the lung cancer in check, but that anti-TNF treatment interfered with her immune response, allowing the cancer to become evident, Lichtenfeld said. "[But] when the drug was withdrawn, the body's native mechanism was re-energized and was able to put this cancer into remission," he explained.
Whether this finding applies to all people taking anti-TNF medications isn't clear, Lichtenfeld added. "Will all patients who received this medication, when it is withdrawn, see their lung cancers go away? I don't think you can draw that conclusion from this report," he said.
"Unusual case reports have been a feature of medicine for a long time," Lichtenfeld said, and whether or not this report has implications for understanding and treating cancer generally remains uncertain. "However, I am sure this report will spark discussion about those questions," he said.
More information
There's more on biologic drugs at the American College of Rheumatology.
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