FDA warns of lymphoma risk in teens taking TNF blockers

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to receive reports of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) in adolescents and young adults treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, azathioprine, and/or mercaptopurine. HSTCL has been reported in patients taking immunosuppressive drugs for Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs associated with increased risk include the TNF blockers, a class of drugs that includes infliximab (Remicade, Centocor), etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen and Pfizer), adalimumab (Humira, Abbott Laboratories), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia, UCB), and golimumab (Simponi, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc). The immunosuppressive drigs azathioprine and mercaptopurine may also be associated with increased risk.