Yes, there is a clear inverse correlation between vitiligo and melanoma. Those with vitiligo have a 3-fold decreased risk of melanoma (Teulings, Br J Derm 2013). This is not surprising, since vitiligo results from a cytotoxic response directed against melanocytes (van den Boorn, J Invest Derm 2009), which are the neoplastic cells in melanoma. Also, the appearance of vitiligo in a patient with late-stage melanoma is a good prognostic sign (Nordlund JAAD 1983), with some developing complete remission. Identical antigens are targeted in both vitiligo and melanoma, however the affinity of the T cell receptor (TCR) is greater on clones isolated from vitiligo patients compared to melanoma patients (Palermo Eur J Imm 2005). Some have proposed to use vitiligo TCR expression as a therapy for melanoma patients (Circosta Hum Gene Ther 2009). There is also support for this inverse correlation from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on vitiligo and melanoma patients. The tyrosinase risk allele for vitiligo is protective against melanoma, and vice-versa (Jin NEJM 2010).

The answer will be "no" rather than "yes". Obviously, cancer related antigens are different to the ones targeted at autoimmune diseases. In another words, targets are different and immune responses too. I guess, under term "cancer" (epithelial neoplasms) you mean oncological diseases. This understanding will imply more complex answer, because some paraneoplasic syndromes contain autoimmune components. And against, autoimminity can provoke the development of some leukemias. Many cancer related antigens are "self" antigens, which are not recognized by immune system. So, many efforts are targeted to disrupt tolerance of immune system to these "self" antgens and induce "beneficial autoimmunity". Some trials (targeting CTLA-4, PD-1, etc.) are successful in experimental studies.

Yes there is a relation between autoimmune thyroid disease and lyphoma

http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/98/8/3131.long

There was an excellent publication investigating this question published by Franks and Slansky about a year ago. Here is the citation for the article which is freely available in PMC.

Anticancer Res. 2012 Apr;32(4):1119-36.

Multiple associations between a broad spectrum of autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Franks AL, Slansky JE.

Integrated Department of Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.

No, I think the opposite is right. e.g.untreated coelic disease, ulcerative colitis (colon carcinoma), rheumatoid arthritis (lymphoma), liver cirrhosis (liver cancer) are examples of autoimmine conditions (cirrhosis minor but also to some extent) which are afflicted with increased rates of neoplasisa. Thus, I guess chronic immunemediated inflammation rather results/favors uncontrolled growing than protect against it.

Another part of the coin is allergic disposition. There are no good studies but I feel that it may own some protective potential. However, the mechanisms are far too complex to say "black" or "white"...

The single good example of anticorrelation between tumors and autoimmunity may be development of vitiligo in successfully treated melanoma patients.

This is a complex topic with no straightforward answer. In many cases it is rather the opposite since chronic inflammation may promote carcinogenesis and tumours might promote autoimmunity. A very good example is myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease which is highly related to thymic tumours. Another factor that needs to be taken into account is that patients suffering from autoimmune disorders frequently receive immunosuppressants as treatment, so you need to be careful what other subpopulation you want to compare them to. As an aside to the autoimmunity-cancer relationship: some cancer vaccines (e.g. against melanoma) have been described to cause autoimmune side reactions.

There is some data from the 1990's that rheumatoid arthritis is negatively associated with female breast cancer and some colorectal cancers but may have increased lymphoma and lung cancer risk (incidentally smoking is also a risk factor for RA ) please see attached paper.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0959804996002109

Hi Derek

I think cancer and autoimmunity may seem at first different based on immune responses involvement, as in cancer patients immune surveillance may be failed and immunosuppressed is expected to be present while in autoimmunity, immune system will act more strongly and the self tolerance will be disrupted. But there is an evidence of relationship between cancer prognosis and arthritis (Arthritis augments breast cancer metastasis: role of mast cells and SCF/c-Kit signaling, Breast Cancer Research 2013, 15:R32 ). Although immune responses have their own hemostasis like any other body system and will be balanced after any challenge but in cancer patient the tolerance may be disrupted easier than normal cases (as the immune hemostasis in these patients probably is damaged). Therefore, theoretically we can't judge about the fate of immune responses after challenge with cancer like any other pathological challenge ( Infection or Inflammation) and in contrast it can not be deduced that anybody who has an autoimmunity wouldn't have the risk of cancer due to the potent immune response rather, in those people who have the powerful immunity some different and immune responses resistance population of cancer cells have opportunity to growth (Selective Pressure).

Good Luck

Certainly there is no straight answer. There may be yes and no both as the crux of the answer lies in the genesis of cancer vis-a-vis immunity, in which IMMUNE DYSREGULATION is the key factor rather than immunosuppression, immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, hypersensitivity or even immunotolerance. This has been amply authenticated in many cancers, particularly those of lymphoid origin such as Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin"s lymphoma,Maltoma, gastric lymphoma and others associated with chronic inflammation more recently.

There are several autoimmune diseases that correlate with cancer:

1. Coeliac disease with MALT lymphoma

2. Sjogren's syndrome with non-Hodgkin liymphoma

3. Cryoglobulinemia with lymphoma

4. Dermato/polymyositis with different cancers etc.

Moreover, many lymphoproliferative diseases are characterized by autoantibody production without real autoimmune disease.

Also, paraneoplastic neurological syndromes can be defined as remote effects of cancer.

Etc, etc.

There is little question that autoimmunity is related at least to some cancers, likely on a genetic basis, i.e., certain genes predisposing to both entities. For example, the high risk of lymphoma in patients witj Sjogren's syndrome, and also the association of underlying malignancies with dermatomyositis, as above-mentioned.

Autoimmunity and tumor immunity evolved as two distinct arenas in immunological research. However, the identification of self-antigens as the major components of malignant cells may define a central role for autoimmunity in cancer control tuned by peripheral immunoregulatory mechanisms avoiding self-aggression.

Please give a look at this manuscript:

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Jun;1107:239-50.

Interleukin-2 mastering regulation in cancer and autoimmunity.

Interresting questions who need investigations!!!

It is a very interesting question. See this attach

Http://www.springerplus.com/content/2/1/357

Yes, there is a clear inverse correlation between vitiligo and melanoma. Those with vitiligo have a 3-fold decreased risk of melanoma (Teulings, Br J Derm 2013). This is not surprising, since vitiligo results from a cytotoxic response directed against melanocytes (van den Boorn, J Invest Derm 2009), which are the neoplastic cells in melanoma. Also, the appearance of vitiligo in a patient with late-stage melanoma is a good prognostic sign (Nordlund JAAD 1983), with some developing complete remission. Identical antigens are targeted in both vitiligo and melanoma, however the affinity of the T cell receptor (TCR) is greater on clones isolated from vitiligo patients compared to melanoma patients (Palermo Eur J Imm 2005). Some have proposed to use vitiligo TCR expression as a therapy for melanoma patients (Circosta Hum Gene Ther 2009). There is also support for this inverse correlation from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on vitiligo and melanoma patients. The tyrosinase risk allele for vitiligo is protective against melanoma, and vice-versa (Jin NEJM 2010).

Thank you for this information. It is fascinating. Hopefully, it will lead to better and more effective therapies for patients,

Edita Simonic

There is no straight answer. There are many data to link personality factors, stress, and failure of psychologic defenses or adaptations to the onset and course of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Emotions and stress may influence the function of the imunologic system via central nervous system and possibly endocrine mediation.

First of all, apologies for late reply. Was cleaning up my email when I came across this.

The short answer is Yes. In SLE , while there is a higher risk of certain cancers such as lymphoma, a disease which predominately effects women, the risk of both ovarian and breast cancer is dramatically reduced.

Why? well thats a different story.........