Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relationship Between Pre-existing Cancer and Tuberculosis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Tuberculosis

Part of the book series: Integrated Science ((IS,volume 11))

  • 642 Accesses

Summary

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most serious infectious diseases in the world. Of those latently infected (LTBI), 5–10% will develop an active infection at some point in their lifespan. Screening strategies and management of LTBI have recently been areas of interest to control the global TB epidemic. Having a hematologic malignancy or head and neck cancer, having an immunocompromising condition, undergoing organ transplantation, and long-term treatment with corticosteroids and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors are risk factors for the development of active TB. The incidence rate of TB decreases from the time of diagnosis of cancer. Patients with hematological malignancies are more likely to develop TB than those with solid cancers. It is due to having a weakened immune system and treatment with chemotherapeutic agents used for managing the hematological malignancies. Despite advanced radiotherapy options, patients with solid head and neck malignancies are still at an increased risk of developing TB than the general population. Similarly, pediatric cancer patients remain at a higher risk of getting TB than their adult counterparts. Altogether, TB in cancer is an important issue that might contribute to mortality, both directly and indirectly.

Graphical Abstract

Risk factors for developing active tuberculosis (TB)

Science is the most reliable guide for civilization, for life, for success in the world. Searching a guide other than the science is meaning carelessness, ignorance and heresy.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. WHO|Global tuberculosis report 2019. In: WHO. http://www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/en/. Accessed 10 May 2020

  2. Bass JB, Farer LS, Hopewell PC et al (1990) Diagnostic standards and classification of tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis 142:725–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cohn DL, O’Brien RJ, Geiter LJ et al (2000) Targeted tuberculin testing and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 49:1–54

    Google Scholar 

  4. Menzies D (2014) Canadian tuberculosis standards. 7th Editio. Center for communicable disease and infection control, Public Health Agency of Canada

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lönnroth K, Migliori GB, Abubakar I et al (2015) Towards tuberculosis elimination: an action framework for low-incidence countries. Eur Respir J 45:928–952

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Getahun H, Matteelli A, Abubakar I et al (2015) Management of latent mycobacterium tuberculosis infection: WHO guidelines for low tuberculosis burden countries. Eur Respir J 46:1563–1576

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Ahmedin Jemal DA, Tiwari RC, Murray T et al (2004) Cancer statistics 2004. CA Cancer J Clin 54:8–29

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Jung K-W, Won Y-J, Kong H-J et al (2015) Cancer statistics in Korea: Incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2012. Cancer Res Treat Official J Korean Cancer Assoc 47:127

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Safdar A, Armstrong D (2001) Infectious morbidity in critically ill patients with cancer. Crit Care Clin 17:531–570

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. De La Rosa GR, Jacobson KL, Rolston KV et al (2004) Mycobacterium tuberculosis at a comprehensive cancer centre: active disease in patients with underlying malignancy during 1990–2000. Clin Microbiol Infect 10:749–752

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kamboj M, Sepkowitz KA (2006) The risk of tuberculosis in patients with cancer. Clin Infect Dis 42:1592–1595

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Shu C-C, Liao K-M, Chen Y-C et al (2019) The burdens of tuberculosis on patients with malignancy: incidence, mortality and relapse. Sci Rep 9:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Dobler CC, Cheung K, Nguyen J, Martin A (2017) Risk of tuberculosis in patients with solid cancers and haematological malignancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Euro Respir J 50

    Google Scholar 

  14. Schölmerich J (2004) Postgastrectomy syndromes-diagnosis and treatment. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 18:917–933

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Stefan DC, Kruis AL, Schaaf HS, Wessels G (2008) Tuberculosis in oncology patients. Ann Trop Paediatr 28:111–116

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Seo GH, Kim MJ, Seo S et al. (2016) Cancer-specific incidence rates of tuberculosis: a 5-year nationwide population-based study in a country with an intermediate tuberculosis burden. Medicine 95

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cho BY, Choi HS, Park YJ et al (2013) Changes in the clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of thyroid cancer in Korea over the past four decades. Thyroid 23:797–804

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Shen T-C, Lin C-L, Wei C-C et al (2014) Increased risk of tuberculosis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: results from a population-based cohort study in Taiwan. Medicine (Baltimore) 93:e96. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000000096

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kaplan MH, Armstrong D, Rosen P (1974) Tuberculosis complicating neoplastic disease. A review of 201 cases. Cancer 33:850–858. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(197403)33:3%3c850::aid-cncr2820330334%3e3.0.co;2-h

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Karachunskiĭ MA, Pivnik AV, Iuldasheva NE (2002) Tuberculosis in patients with hemoblastoses. Probl Tuberk 24–27

    Google Scholar 

  21. Karnak D, Kayacan O, Beder S (2002) Reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis in malignancy. Tumori 88:251–254

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Srivastava VM, Krishnaswami H, Srivastava A et al (1996) Infections in haematological malignancies: an autopsy study of 72 cases. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 90:406–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0035-9203(96)90524-6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Silva FA, Matos JO, de Mello QFC, Nucci M (2005) Risk factors for and attributable mortality from tuberculosis in patients with hematologic malignances. Haematologica 90:1110–1115

    Google Scholar 

  24. Cheng MP, Chakra CNA, Yansouni CP et al (2017) Risk of active tuberculosis in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Infect Dis 64:635–644. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciw838

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Morrison VA, Rai KR, Peterson BL et al (2001) Impact of therapy with chlorambucil, fludarabine, or fludarabine plus chlorambucil on infections in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Intergroup Study Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9011. J Clin Oncol 19:3611–3621. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2001.19.16.3611

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Abad S, Gyan E, Moachon L et al (2003) Tuberculosis due to mycobacterium bovis after alemtuzumab administration. Clin Infect Dis 37:e27-28. https://doi.org/10.1086/375690

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Frank DA, Mahajan S, Ritz J (1999) Fludarabine-induced immunosuppression is associated with inhibition of STAT1 signaling. Nat Med 5:444–447. https://doi.org/10.1038/7445

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Sanders C, Perez EA, Lawrence HJ (1992) Opportunistic infections in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia following treatment with fludarabine. Am J Hematol 39:314–315. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.2830390418

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Ghosh K, Sivakumaran M, Murphy P, Chapman CS (1995) Pulmonary tuberculosis after fludarabine for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Natl Med J India 8:294–295

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. de la Cámara R, Martino R, Granados E et al (2000) Tuberculosis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome. Spanish Group on Infectious complications in hematopoietic transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 26:291–298. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702506

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Bloss E, Chan P-C, Cheng N-W et al (2012) Increasing directly observed therapy related to improved tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Taiwan. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 16:462–467. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.11.0121

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Hong S, Mok Y, Jeon C et al (2016) Tuberculosis, smoking and risk for lung cancer incidence and mortality. Int J Cancer 139:2447–2455. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.30384

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Shieh S-H, Probst JC, Sung F-C et al (2012) Decreased survival among lung cancer patients with co-morbid tuberculosis and diabetes. BMC Cancer 12:174. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-12-174

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Morrison VA (2014) Immunosuppression associated with novel chemotherapy agents and monoclonal antibodies. Clin Infect Dis 59(Suppl 5):S360-364. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciu592

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Cognetti DM, Weber RS, Lai SY (2008) Head and neck cancer: an evolving treatment paradigm. Cancer 113:1911–1932. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.23654

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Harris BN, Pipkorn P, Nguyen KNB et al (2019) Association of adjuvant radiation therapy with survival in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 145:153–158. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2018.3650

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Kuo S-C, Hu Y-W, Liu C-J et al (2013) Association between tuberculosis infections and non-pulmonary malignancies: a nationwide population-based study. Br J Cancer 109:229–234. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2013.220

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Recommendations|Tuberculosis|Guidance|NICE. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng33/chapter/Recommendations#latent-tb. Accessed 10 May 2020

  39. Feld R, Bodey GP, Gröschel D (1976) Mycobacteriosis in patients with malignant disease. Arch Intern Med 136:67–70

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University School of Medicine, Muğla, Turkey

    Yaşar Barış Turgut

  2. Integrated Science Association (ISA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Muğla, Turkey

    Yaşar Barış Turgut & Özgür Tanrıverdi

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medipol University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

    Alican Tahta

  4. Integrated Science Association (ISA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Istanbul, Turkey

    Alican Tahta

  5. Division of Medical Oncology, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University School of Medicine, Muğla, Turkey

    Özgür Tanrıverdi

Authors
  1. Yaşar Barış Turgut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alican Tahta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Özgür Tanrıverdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yaşar Barış Turgut .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Stockholm, Sweden

    Nima Rezaei

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Turgut, Y.B., Tahta, A., Tanrıverdi, Ö. (2023). Relationship Between Pre-existing Cancer and Tuberculosis. In: Rezaei, N. (eds) Tuberculosis. Integrated Science, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15955-8_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation