No evidence for higher risk of cancer in patients with multiple sclerosis taking cladribine.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare the cancer risk of cladribine and other disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) in trials of people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (pwRMS).

Methods

Meta-analysis of phase III trials of licensed DMDs for pwRMS and a phase III trial of cladribine (CLARITY). Cancer rates were compared using Fisher exact test.

Results

Eleven trials were included. Investigated treatments included cladribine, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, teriflunomide, natalizumab, alemtuzumab, and glatiramer acetate. The cancer rate in the CLARITY treatment group (0.34%) was not increased compared to all other treatment groups, whether including placebo-controlled trials only (0.6%, p = 0.4631) or all trials, i.e., including those with an active comparator arm (0.67%, p = 0.3669). No cance

SUBMITTER: Pakpoor J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4592538 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature