Biologics may lower risk of advanced-stage IBD-associated intestinal cancer

The key findings of the study are

• A total of 1,042 patients (214 CD and 828 UC patients) were included. None of the drugs were significantly associated with cancer stage in the CD patients.

• In the UC patients, an advanced cancer stage was significantly associated with less use of biologics (early stage: 7.7% vs. advanced stage: 2.0%, P < 0.001), 5-ASA and IMs.

• Biologic use was associated with a lower incidence of advanced-stage cancer in patients diagnosed by regular surveillance (biologics [-] 24.5% vs. [+] 9.1%, P = 0.043), but this was not the case for the other drugs.

• Multivariate analysis showed that biologic use was significantly associated with a lower risk of advanced stage disease (odds ratio = 0.111 [95% CI, 0.034–0.356], P < 0.001).

Dr Ryo Seishima and team concluded that "Biologic use was associated with a lower risk of advanced IBD-associated cancer in UC patients but not in CD patients. The mechanism of cancer progression between UC and CD may be different and needs to be further investigated."

Reference: Seishima, Ryo M.D., Ph.D.; Okabayashi, Koji M.D.,a; Ikeuchi, Hiroki M.D., Ph.D.; Uchino, Motoi M.D., Ph.D.; Futami, Kitaro M.D., Ph.D.; Noguchi, Tatsuki M.D., Ph.D.; Ohge, Hiroki M.D., Ph.D.; Iseki, Yasuihito M.D., Ph.D. et al. "The effect of biologics on the risk of advanced-stage IBD-associated intestinal cancer: A nationwide study." The American Journal of Gastroenterology ; DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002149.