Malignancies and rheumatoid arthritis, csDMARDs, biological DMARDs, and JAK inhibitors: challenge and outlook.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder necessitating immunosuppressive therapy. Remarkable progress has been made in the treatment of RA over recent decades, particularly with the development of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi). Nonetheless, the development of new drugs has been accompanied by concerns regarding the association between these novel therapies and the risk of malignancy.

AREAS COVERED: This narrative review aims to discuss the understanding of RA, conventional synthetic (cs) DMARDs, bDMARDs, JAKi, and their association with malignancy. Furthermore, the review discusses the management of malignancy in patients receiving b/tsDMARDs.

EXPERT OPINION: Although recent studies suggest that the potential risk of malignancy of methotrexate and a JAKi tofacitinib, it is essential to avoid indiscriminate withholding of treatment by those agents, as this may lead functional impairment and increased mortality. Therefore, the adoption of a Treat-to-Target (T2T) approach considering individual patient characteristics, becomes of utmost importance. Rheumatologists should maintain a vigilant stance regarding malignancy in this context, recognizing the importance of early detection and management. Implementing a screening program for malignancies is indispensable, and the use of computed tomography screening may enhance the effectiveness of management strategies.