Potential Carcinogenicity of Drugs

Dear Colleagues,

While the regular use of medications by humans is ubiquitous, the identification of elevated cancer risks associated with therapeutic drugs often requires long-term post-marketing pharmacovigilance. A few pharmaceutical agents have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Examples include several alkylating antineoplastic drugs (e.g., melphalan, treosulfan, chlorambucil), the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide, either alone or in combination with cisplatin and bleomycin, some immunosupressants (e.g., ciclosporin, azathioprine), phenacetin and analgesic mixtures containing phenacetin, some (post)menopausal hormone therapy regimens and combined estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives. However, evidence of strong causal associations between the administration of specific drugs and cancer induction has frequently been difficult to distinguish from confounding factors (e.g., combination therapies) and random observations.  The availability of novel methodologies and more comprehensive patient databases calls for safety (re)assessment of common marketed drugs. In recent years, mechanistic data have gained increased relevance to cancer hazard evaluation and consideration of the key characteristics of human carcinogens, as defined in Smith et al. (Environ. Health Perspect. 2016, 124:713), represents a good systematic approach to guide the assessment of mechanistic evidence on carcinogenicity. 

This special issue of Pharmaceuticals is focused on the potential carcinogenicity of marketed drugs and drug candidates. Authors are invited to submit relevant original articles, reviews or short communications for inclusion. Both studies in humans and experimental systems, from clinical evidence to predictive mechanistic data, are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Maria Matilde Soares Duarte Marques
Guest Editor

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• therapeutic drugs
• carcinogenicity
• pharmacovigilance
• mechanisms
• key characteristics of carcinogens