Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) - a condition characterized by long-standing inflammation of the nasal and sinus linings - may involve more systemic risks than previously realized. A new bi-national cohort study by Park et al. (2025), published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that people with CRS face a significantly higher risk of developing cancer, particularly those without nasal polyps.
Researchers analyzed data from over 62,000 adults aged 40 and older across South Korea (discovery cohort) and Japan (validation cohort), comparing cancer incidence between individuals with CRS and matched controls. Using advanced statistical weighting of health record data, they found:
Overall cancer risk was elevated in CRS patients (Korea: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.18; Japan: 1.34).
Lung cancer risk was notably increased (Korea: aHR 1.28; Japan: 1.37).
Colorectal cancer risk rose in the Japanese group but not significantly in the Korean cohort.
The heightened risks were mainly associated with CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) rather than CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).
The authors suggest that chronic mucosal inflammation may foster a tumor-promoting environment through persistent immune activation and epithelial remodeling. While causality isn’t established, these findings emphasize that CRS might not be just a local inflammatory disorder but part of a broader systemic process with long-term implications.
Key takeaway: Clinicians managing CRS - especially CRSsNP - should maintain awareness of potential systemic risks and consider long-term surveillance strategies. Chronic sinus disease may be more than a nuisance - it could be an early marker of systemic inflammation linked to cancer development.
References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674925014320