Biologic therapies for plaque type psoriasis in patients with previous malignant cancer: long-term safety in a single- center real-life population

Abstract

Introduction This is an Italian single-center retrospective study evaluating safety and efficacy of biologic agents in psoriatic patients with a previous diagnosis of malignant cancer. Aim Management of moderate and severe psoriasis patients with a past medical history of malignancies could be difficult because biologic agents are historically associated with a presumptive increased risk of neoplastic reactivation or of a new incoming cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the safety of biologics in patients with a previous cancer diagnosis. Material and methods The study analyzed 16 moderate to severe psoriasis patients with a diagnosis of malignant cancer in the previous 10 years treated with biologic agents for up to at least 96 weeks. In five of these patients, cancer was diagnosed in the previous 5 years. Results We observed a rapid decrease in PASI (psoriasis area severity index) reaching a 90% improvement in 100% of patients. Oncologic follow up did not show any worsening or reactivation of cancer during the entire observation period. No new malignancies were observed in the analyzed sample. Conclusions Biologic agents in our experience have demonstrated to be safe and effective in psoriatic patients with a past medical history of malignant cancer.

Keywords

• psoriasis
• biologics
• cancer