About this Research Topic
With the increase in life expectancy and advances in cancer treatment, new forms of autoimmunity are emerging, which are also associated with an increased cancer risk. The combination of these two diseases can therefore be seen as an opportunity to discover new common pathophysiological pathways.
Indeed, autoimmune diseases are associated with chronic inflammation that can become a risk factor in cancer. The mechanisms promoting the emergence of autoimmunity can ultimately lead to programming or control errors, leading to tumor processes within the immune system. The increased risk of lymphoma associated with rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren's disease is an illustration of this issue. However, these inflammatory processes occur late in the disease with no way to prevent them, except by treating the underlying autoimmune diseases to avoid later complications. In contrast, we have now seen described some early forms of severe tumor diseases associated with autoimmune diseases.
Understanding the pathophysiological links, including genetic links, between cancer and autoimmune diseases is one way to study the question of the treatment of these two pathologies. Therapeutic strategies can arise at the source of the break of tolerance, during control of autoimmunity or at the emergence of cancer. The goal of this topic is to propose new therapeutic schemes at the interface between the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, and examine genetic susceptibility factors as well as environmental factors.
We welcome all manuscript types that consider pathophysiological links between cancer and autoimmunity diseases, which includes genetic links. Review articles should consider pathophysiological pathways that could support therapeutic perspectives in cancer and/or autoimmune diseases.
Indeed, autoimmune diseases are associated with chronic inflammation that can become a risk factor in cancer. The mechanisms promoting the emergence of autoimmunity can ultimately lead to programming or control errors, leading to tumor processes within the immune system. The increased risk of lymphoma associated with rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren's disease is an illustration of this issue. However, these inflammatory processes occur late in the disease with no way to prevent them, except by treating the underlying autoimmune diseases to avoid later complications. In contrast, we have now seen described some early forms of severe tumor diseases associated with autoimmune diseases.
Understanding the pathophysiological links, including genetic links, between cancer and autoimmune diseases is one way to study the question of the treatment of these two pathologies. Therapeutic strategies can arise at the source of the break of tolerance, during control of autoimmunity or at the emergence of cancer. The goal of this topic is to propose new therapeutic schemes at the interface between the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, and examine genetic susceptibility factors as well as environmental factors.
We welcome all manuscript types that consider pathophysiological links between cancer and autoimmunity diseases, which includes genetic links. Review articles should consider pathophysiological pathways that could support therapeutic perspectives in cancer and/or autoimmune diseases.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
