Abstract
BackgroundFollow-up studies of psoriasis patients indicate an increased risk in the occurrence of malignancies at different sites of origin. Population stratification and/or complicated interpretation of evidence on the risk of cancer (due to the small number of patients included in most series) lead to inconsistent data. Herein we investigated the risk of occurrence of malignancies at different sites of origin in a series of 517 psoriasis patients and their 1st degree relatives.MethodsWe evaluated the tumour spectrum as well as the age of the patient at diagnosis of cancers in psoriasis families along with the observed and expected frequencies of malignancies. The distribution of 17 common mutations/polymorphisms in 10 known cancer susceptibility genes among psoriasis patients and 517 matched healthy controls were examined. No such study has been published to date.ResultsThe statistical comparison of the observed and expected frequencies of cancers revealed a higher than expected occurrence of Hodgkin’s lymphoma among males in psoriasis families when compared to the general population (OR=1.8, 95%CI 1.6-2.1, p=0.002). There was a non-significant tendency towards a younger age of onset and overrepresentation of laryngeal cancer and leukaemia in psoriasis families. We found no major differences in the distribution of cancer susceptibility mutations among our cases and the healthy controls.ConclusionsThe results of our study suggest an increased risk of Hodgkin’s lymphoma for male members of psoriasis families. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings and to evaluate whether or not the application of cancer surveillance protocols for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukaemia and laryngeal cancer are justified in these families.
Highlights
Follow-up studies of psoriasis patients indicate an increased risk in the occurrence of malignancies at different sites of origin
In a recent study of Finnish psoriasis patients, the estimated relative risk was higher for Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, squamous skin cancer and laryngeal cancers; the risk for other malignancies was unchanged when compared to the general population [18]
Additional analyses performed in psoriasis vulgaris (PsV) families included the comparison of observed frequencies (OF) with expected frequencies (EF) and the relative risk (RR) of occurrence of malignancies at different sites of origin
Summary
Follow-up studies of psoriasis patients indicate an increased risk in the occurrence of malignancies at different sites of origin. We investigated the risk of occurrence of malignancies at different sites of origin in a series of 517 psoriasis patients and their 1st degree relatives. Psoriasis is one of the most common skin disorders, and it is estimated that it affects 2-3% of the general Caucasian population [1]. Follow-up studies of psoriasis patients point to an increased risk in the occurrence of malignancies at different sites of origin. In a recent study of Finnish psoriasis patients, the estimated relative risk was higher for Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, squamous skin cancer and laryngeal cancers; the risk for other malignancies (such as colon, lung or kidney) was unchanged when compared to the general population [18]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
