Multiple Sclerosis Disease Modifying Therapy and Cancer risks

Abstract

In multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammation of the central nervous system is the major component of the disease’s pathology. If this is the major factor of the disease’s pathogenesis, it’s still a matter of debate nowadays [1,2]. The disease relapses were believed to be a T cell drive process, although recent evidence shows a growing importance of other cell types like B-cells and other peripheral myeloid cells [1,2], as well as CNS primary cells [2]. Once chronic inflammation is associated with cancer [3], a possible correlation between a chronic disease like multiple sclerosis and cancer have been studied throughout the time. There are studies showing decrease or no alteration in cancer risk of multiple sclerosis patients, even though some specific cancers show a different trend [4-8].