Cancer in systemic rheumatic diseases- occurrence, genetics, prediction and consequences

Purpose and aimPatients with systemic rheumatic disease (SRD) are severely affected: within five years of diagnosis, 25% have died.

This results in a mortality that is three times as high as in a general population with the same age and sex distribution. One of the leading causes of death, and the most common disease affecting our patients is cancer. We know very little of why our patients develop cancer, and what their prognosis is.

The aim of this study is to define the genetic and clinical characteristics of cancer, and quantify the consequences of cancer in patients with SRD.Following questions will be answered:What cancer types do patients with SRD develop in comparison with the general population?What is the genetic contribution to cancer development in SRD?Can we predict which patients with SRD will develop cancer?What is the risk of death and cancer relapse in patients with SRD and cancer?Project organization, time plan, scientific methodThis project is an international collaboration, that will span four years.

Our study population consists of clinically well-defined patients that will be genotyped at deCODE Genetics, followed over time with respect to cancer, and studied using modern epidemiological methods including machine learning.SignificanceThis project will influence how we screen for cancer in our patients, help us identify cancer processes earlier, and improve how we take care of our patients after cancer.

This will have a major impact on our patients lives.