Overview
Summary Reports the deliberations of a working group convened to evaluate the carcinogenic risk to humans posed by the therapeutic use of 15 pharmaceutical drugs. The volume features separate monographs on five antineoplastic agents, four antimicrobial agents, two diuretics, ciclosporin (an immunosuppressant), cimetidine (used in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers), paracetamol (a popular analgesic and antipyretic drug), and dantron (a laxative). Drugs were selected for inclusion on the basis of published data suggesting carcinogenic effects in experimental animals or in human patients treated with the drug. The working group identified two of the drugs - ciclosporin and thiotepa - as human carcinogens. Ciclosporin, an immunosuppressant, is widely used in the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host reactions in bone-marrow transplantation and to prevent the rejection of kidney, heart, and liver transplants. Often given to transplant recipients for several months, ciclosporin has been linked to a remarkably high occurrence of lymphomas, found predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as to skin cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma. The carcinogenicity of thiotepa, a cytostatic agent used in the treatment of malignant lymphomas and solid tumours, has been clearly demonstrated in both experimental animals and human patients, where treatment with the drug has been linked to the development of leukaemia. Azacitidine, chloramphenicol, and chlorozotocin were judged to be probably carcinogenic to humans, while dantron and trichlormethine were identified as possible human carcinogens. The remaining substances could not be classified on the basis of currently available evidence. The experts also noted that long-term experiments with paracetamol, nitrofurantoin, and nitrofural have shown reductions in tumour incidence at some sites in some animal species.
Full Product Details
Author: International Agency for Research on Cancer
Publisher: IARC
Imprint: IARC
Volume: v. 50
Dimensions:
Width: 16.00cm
, Height: 2.20cm
, Length: 24.00cm
Weight: 0.739kg
ISBN: 9789283212508
ISBN 10: 9283212509
Pages: 415
Publication Date: 18 March 1991
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Author Information
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organization. IARC's mission is to coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific strategies for cancer control. The Agency is involved in both epidemiological and laboratory research and disseminates scientific information through publications, meetings, courses, and fellowships.
