Diagnosis of cancer in patients with rheumatic diseases

In patients with chronic rheumatic diseases, misleading symptoms can delay cancer diagnosis. In this study, researchers evaluated whether a metabolic signature could indicate paraneoplasia or reveal concomitant cancer in patients with rheumatic musculoskeletal disease. Metabolic markers were quantified in the sera of 56 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis and 52 patients without known rheumatic disease. A diagnostic cancer model was developed using levels of acetate, creatine, glycine, formate and the L1/L6 lipid ratio.