University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine Apr 13 2026 Patients with autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of developing lymphoma, a form of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Researchers have now identified a mechanism that may help explain this connection. The immune system is designed to protect us against viruses and bacteria. In autoimmune diseases however, the immune system instead attacks the body’s own cells. Conditions such as