Findings had shown that anti-TNFs did not appear to increase the risk of NSMC in patients without a prior history of skin cancer. In patients with a history of the disease, there was elevated risk of recurrence, regardless of whether patients received nbDMARDs or anti-TNFs, and it did not seem to occur more in the biologic-treated patients.
"I think the most striking finding, however, was regardless of treatment, all patients in the register, overall, have a marked increased risk of skin cancer, compared with general population, so I think RA itself and its treatment is probably the strongest risk factor," Dr. Hyrich said.
The BSRBR is funded by a grant from the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR), which receives funding from multiple drug companies. This income finances a separate contract between the BSR and the University of Manchester that provides and runs the BSRBR RA Register. Dr. Silva-Fernandez and Dr. Hyrich had no personal conflicts of interest.