Long-term risk of cancer development among anti-Th/To antibody-positive systemic sclerosis patients: comment on the article by Mecoli et al.

We read the report by Mecoli et al on the relationship between cancer and anti-Th/To antibodies (AThAs) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) (1). It is interesting that the presence of AThAs was reported to confer a protective effect against cancer development in those patients. However, cancer development in AThA-positive patients was significantly suppressed only within the first 3 years after SSc onset, and there was no significant difference in the number of deceased between the AThA-positive and AThA-negative patients.