Τόμος 3 (1985) – Τεύχος 1 – Άρθρο 5 – Επιθεώρηση Κλινικής Φαρμακολογίας και Φαρμακοκινητικής-Ελληνική Έκδοση – Volume 3 (1985) – Issue 1 – Article 5 – Epitheorese Klinikes Farmakologias και Farmakokinetikes-Greek Edition

Gr. N. TSEKOS AND G.F. CHRYSOS

^{Α’ Παθολογική Κλινική, Γενικό Νοσοκομείο Αθηνών}

2: 289-296 (1985)

PHARMAKON-Press: Epitheorese Klin. Farmakol. Farmakokinet.

2: 289-296 (1985)

 Leukemogenesis, Carcinogenesis, Antineoplastic Drugs

Acute toxicity and side effects of antineoplastic drugs were well documented up to 1970. Since then, late side effects were reported, as the development of second prima­ry malignancies (leukemias or tumors) during the treatment of primary neoplasias (e.g. can­cer, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease etc.). From laboratory animal experimentation it has been concluded that cancer chemotherapy a­gents, specifically the alkylating agents and procarbazine have carcinogenic potential. Over 25 drugs in chemotherapy have been found to be carcinogenic in animals. To the list of the late side effects of cytotoxic drugs, evidence of leukemogenic or carcinogenic activity in man has now been added. In the literature there is convincing evidence for a leukemogenic effect, especially of alkylating agents chemotherapy, in patients with various cancers, as well as in those with non-malignant diseases. The leuke­mogenic or carcinogenic potential risk has pro­ven to be high, and great caution should be exercised in the consideration of regiments in which chemotherapy is combined with radia­tion, a combination likely to enhance the abo­ve risk. The potential hazard of antineoplastic chemotherapy in the development of second primary malignancies, is described here in de­tail. The real magnitude of the risk associated with many treatment regimens is not well known. For some patients the risk of second primary tumors varies from 7 to 12 per cent.

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3. Allan, W.S.A.: Letter to the Editor, Acute myeloid leu­kemia after treatment with cytostatic agents. Lancet 11: 775 (1970)
4. Garfield, D.H.: Acute erythromegakaryocytic leukemia after treatment with cytostatic agents. Lancet 2. 1037 (1970)
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