Cancer risk is higher for people battling autoimmune diseases, but the danger declines after they start taking anti-inflammatory medications, a new report finds.
Italian researchers reporting in the journal Cancers found a 32 percent increase in the odds for cancer in the first year after a diagnosis for an autoimmune disease such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis.
However, after patients start taking drugs to ease the runaway inflammation that characterizes these illnesses, their cancer risk declines.
“The peak risk observed in the early stages suggests that chronic inflammation, rather than treatments, is a key factor in cancer development,” said Daniela Marotto, co-senior author of the study. She is head of rheumatology at the Local Health Authority of Gallura, in Italy.
Marotto and colleagues tracked the incidence of cancer among more than 356,000 Italians. They found that cancers of the lung and bladder, as well as blood malignancies (such as leukemias and lymphomas) and melanoma, were most associated with autoimmune disease.
“Our results support the hypothesis that inflammation is a determining factor in cancer risk,” noted study co-author Dr. Antonio Giordano, a professor at the University of Siena in Italy. He is also the founder and director of the Sbarro Health Research Organization.
Researchers said the finding highlights the need to encourage cancer screening among people with autoimmune diseases, especially in the first year after a diagnosis.
The study’s researchers note that chronic inflammation may play a significant role in the increased cancer risk being observed among patients with autoimmune disorders. Lupus, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by ongoing immune system activation, leading to long-term tissue damage and cellular-level changes.
Over time, recurrent inflammation may create an environment that promotes abnormal cell growth and tumor development. Some experts believe this inflammatory burden, not just immunosuppressive treatment exposure, may help explain why patients with autoimmune disorders seem to face higher risks for certain cancers, including lymphoma, bladder cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancers.
The research also reinforces the growing evidence that autoimmune disorders are systemic (whole-body) conditions with effects that extend beyond just the joints or skin. Clinicians may need to consider inflammation management not only as an approach to reduce symptoms and prevent organ damage, but also as part of long-term cancer prevention.
The study’s findings can be particularly significant for Black communities, who continue to be disproportionately burdened by higher rates of severe lupus and related complications. Black women are more likely to develop lupus than white women and often face earlier disease onset, more aggressive disease progression, and higher rates of lupus nephritis and hospitalization.
There are several factors that contribute to these disparities, including barriers to specialized care, delayed diagnosis, insurance limitations, and systemic inequities. In many instances, Black patients are diagnosed with autoimmune disease much later in the disease course, after irreversible organ damage or chronic inflammation has already occurred.
These disparities may also affect cancer outcomes. Black patients already face inequities in cancer screening, delayed diagnoses, and higher mortality rates across multiple cancer types. When combined with chronic inflammatory disease, these factors may place some patients at even greater risk for poor outcomes.
Clinicians should consider the importance of culturally responsive care, timely referral to rheumatology and dermatology specialists, and proactive screening discussions in high-risk patient populations, such as the Black community.
This study adds to the growing evidence that autoimmune disease can be a risk factor for developing certain cancers. For clinicians, these findings highlight the need for long-term surveillance, individualized cancer risk assessment, and aggressive management of chronic inflammation.
As researchers continue to explore the relationship between inflammation and cancer risk, providers can play a significant role in improving outcomes through earlier intervention, equitable screening practices, and coordinated multispecialty care.
More information
Find out more about autoimmune diseases at the Cleveland Clinic.
SOURCE: Sbarro Health Research Organization, news release, March 30, 2026
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