Author/Authors :
Etemadifar, Masoud Department of Neurology - School of Medicine - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , Jahanbani Ardakani, Hamidreza Isfahan Medical Students Research Center (IMRC) - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , Ghaffari, Sara Isfahan Medical Students Research Center (IMRC) - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , Fereidan-Esfahani, Mahboobeh Isfahan Medical Students Research Center (IMRC) - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , Changaei, Hossein School of Basic Sciences - Shahid Madani University of Azarbaijan, Tabriz, Iran , Aghadoost, Nazila School of Medicine - Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran , Jahanbani-Ardakani, Ameneh Department of Medical Surgical Nursing - School of Nursing and Midwifery - Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Moradkhani, Negin Department of Neurology - School of Medicine - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS), a central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune disorder, affects 2.3 million people around the world. Cancer kills around 7.5 million people annually. Both diseases have similar risks and intertwining molecular causes. Most studies focusing on MS and cancer have found an insignificant difference or reduction in the amount of cancer found in the MS community.
Methods: We performed a cohort study using data from Isfahan Multiple Sclerosis Society (IMSS) and Isfahan cancer society and followed-up for 8 years on average (2006-2014). All of the 1718 MS patients were diagnosed according to McDonald’s criteria, then standardized incidence ratio and the numbers of expected cancer case were calculated.
Results: While patients had an insignificant change in cancer prevalence, men had fewer cancer cases and women showed an increased prevalence of cancer. Certain types of cancer proved statistically significant. Breast cancer, nervous system cancers, and lymphoma were elevated in the cohort.
Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that MS significantly affects certain cancers in a protective or associative manner. All cancer rates, except breast cancer, cancers located in the nervous system, and lymphomas were reduced in cohort, suggesting that unregulated immune function may provide protective effects to MS patients against cancer.
Keywords :
Cancer , Iran , Isfahan , Multiple Sclerosis , Cohort
