Decreased prevalence of cancer in patients with multiple sclerosis: A case-control study

Xavier Moisset (1, 2) , Maud Perié (2) , Bruno Pereira (3) , Emilie Dumont (4, 2) , Christine Lebrun-Frenay (5) , François-Xavier Lesage (6) , Frédéric Dutheil (7) , Frederic Taithe (2) , Pierre Clavelou (2)

1 Neuro-Dol - Neuro-Dol
2 Service de Neurologie [CHU Clermont-Ferrand]
3 Unité de Biostatistiques [CHU Clermont-Ferrand]
4 LSIS - Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Information et des Systèmes
5 CHU Nice - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice
6 UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3
7 LAPSCO - Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive

Background: Studies of cancer prevalence have produced conflicting results concerning the relative risk of overall and specific sub-types of cancer in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Contemporary controls and information on tobacco use and alcohol consumption are generally missing from previous studies. Objectives: To evaluate lifetime cancer prevalence in a large cohort of MS patients relative to appropriate controls. Methods: We conducted a case-control study, using a postal survey of a cohort of MS patients. Of the 1574 questionnaires sent, 1107 could be used for statistical analysis. Data from 1568 controls were prospectively collected using the same self-administered survey among consecutive out-patients in a single neurology department. Propensity scores matched on age, gender, and history of smoking and alcohol consumption were calculated. Results: Among the MS patients, 7.32% had ever presented with a cancer, whereas 12,63% of the controls had, leading to a bootstrap matched odds ratio (OR) of 0.63; 95% CI 0.57–0.70. Although only exploratory, the use of DMT (immunomodulators or immunosupressants) did not appear to increase this risk (p = 0.42). The disease course also did not affect cancer prevalence. Conclusion: MS was associated with a reduced overall cancer risk.

Mots clés: Multiple sclerosis; Cancer risk factors; Alcohol consumption; Cancer treatment; Smoking habits; Multivariate analysis; Lesions; Meta-analysis

Domaines: Santé publique et épidémiologie; Cancer; Neurobiologie

Xavier Moisset, Maud Perié, Bruno Pereira, Emilie Dumont, Christine Lebrun-Frenay, et al.. Decreased prevalence of cancer in patients with multiple sclerosis: A case-control study. PLoS ONE, 2017, 12 (11), pp.e0188120. ⟨10.1371/journal.pone.0188120⟩. ⟨hal-01650724⟩