Are autoantibodies associated with malignancy causal?
In DM/PM and systemic sclerosis, there are antibodies that are closely associated with malignancy. TIF-1 gamma (anti-p155/140) and antibodies to NXP-2 (anti-MJ; anti-p140) in DM/PM and autoantibodies to RNA polymerase III or anti-RNPC-3 in scleroderma increase the risk of an underlying malignancy at the time the rheumatic symptoms present.
