Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Cancer risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based cohort study in the Republic of Korea 2004–2021
Authors' conclusion
Patients with SLE have increased cancer risk compared with the general population. Increased relative cancer risk is associated with younger age, first year post-diagnosis, and cyclophosphamide treatment.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 2004–2020, Korean National Health Insurance Service data; followed until cancer diagnosis, death or December 2021
- Participants
- 24,241 patients
- Exposure
- Patients with SLE vs the general population
- SLEn = 24,241
- Outcome
- Cancer risk (SIR vs general population)
Methodological detailsstandardized incidence ratios vs general population, subgroup analyses by age at diagnosis, follow-up duration and immunosuppressive use
- Standardized incidence ratios vs general population
- Subgroup analyses by age at diagnosis, follow-up duration and immunosuppressive use
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Overall, solid and haematological cancer
Each group vs general populationEstimate (95% CI)
SLE
SIR (overall cancer) 3.3(3.2–3.4)
SLE
SIR (solid cancer) 3.1(3.0–3.2)
SLE
SIR (haematological cancer) 9.8(8.9–10.9)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Solid cancer sites
- Among solid cancers, liver cancer had the highest risk, followed by ovarian cancer
Cancer risk by age at diagnosis (subgroup)
- Relative cancer risk peaked among patients aged 20-39 years: SIR
- 4.9 (95% CI 4.6-5.2)
Cancer risk by follow-up duration (subgroup) · first year after diagnosis
- Relative cancer risk peaked during the first year after diagnosis: SIR
- 4.7 (95% CI 4.3-5.1)
Cancer risk with CYC treatment (subgroup)
- Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for haematological, cervical and lung cancers higher in CYC-treated patients than in the overall SLE population
Original publication
Cancer risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based cohort study in the Republic of Korea 2004–2021. Scand J Rheumatol. Published 4 November 2025. doi:10.
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