Are there any drugs (especially anticancer drugs) known for their side effects in enhancing the progression of cancer (or inducing a cancer in other cells of different origin of the body). My question is in context of how a drug which is meant to treat a disease, sometimes could leads to induce the same disease. Is there any proof of concept, or it is just a misunderstood perception about the anticancer drugs.
Please have a look at these useful links.
Article The carcinogenicity of anticancer drugs: A hazard in man
https://uihc.org/health-topics/side-effects-anti-cancer-drugs
https://www.texasoncology.com/cancer-treatment/side-effects-of-cancer-treatment/long-term-side-effects/secondary-malignancies
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/side-effects
Resoundingly yes.
Many cancer treatments have now been linked to the development of secondary cancers(article attached). The harms of some radiation regiments and chemotherapy treatments have now been established to cause leukemia in some patients.
Additionally, some cancers may also give rise to other cancers as well if not properly treated.
http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/002043-pdf.pdf
I don't think so, As anticancer drugs either kill the cells, stop proliferation of cells, or stop a signaling pathway which induced in cancer cells. And all mechanisms will not induce caner.
@Bashir, read the link I posted. Some anticancer drugs develop different secondary cancers after treatment; especially the case with radiation therapy.
However, the risk is still minimal.
@ bashir and Michael thanks for the answering but dear bashir there are certain incidences where the drugs are showing the cancer precipitation. However for e.g like Selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) (raloxifene) can precipitate the cancer.
Please have a look at these useful links.
Article The carcinogenicity of anticancer drugs: A hazard in man
https://uihc.org/health-topics/side-effects-anti-cancer-drugs
https://www.texasoncology.com/cancer-treatment/side-effects-of-cancer-treatment/long-term-side-effects/secondary-malignancies
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/side-effects
If any treatment can cause mutation of DNA of cells, it may initiate cancer.
It may be due to continuous exposure of such treatment.
But killing of some cancer cells by surgery, chemotherapy and/ or radiation may also assist in metastasis of cancer cells.
So, cancer treatment may cause/ accelerate spread of cancer, if not properly performed.
Thanks.
@ Arvind Negi
Yes, anti-cancer drugs may cause cancer. Please take a look at the following RG links and PDF attachment.
Article Prevention of the anticancer drugs by metallothionein induction
Article Mutagenic and carcinogenic properties of platinum-based anti...
Thanks!
Dear Arvind, I went through the chat on your question and discovered that you had the answer before asking the question going by the popularity of the answer you provided for the same question you asked. I was of the opinion that you were uncertain about the role of anti-cancer drugs in mediating cancer diseases. So now, what really was the import of the question seeing that you had all the lofty answers?
Dear Dr. Maurice,
Science is modifying our idea regularly. It was a question of 2013. Still discussion on that topic is very important.
I also ask some questions in spite of having some idea about the answers.
It is always good to add idea of other experts with our own knowledge.
Thanks.
It may be, because some times the anticancer drugs lead to appearance of secondary cancer. So this case may be caused by mutation, radiation or other reasons. Also, the drugs kill cancer cells and they can kill normal cells. So killing normal cells can cause another cancer.
Also, you can see the links below, they have some informations about this topic and they may be helpful.
With regards.
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects.html
https://uihc.org/health-topics/side-effects-anti-cancer-drugs
I agree with Fares. I see no reason why anti-cancer drugs should cause cancer and we still use them. What do we want to achieve by this? Anyone of them that has the slightest ability to do so should be removed from the market. We have too many problems with cancer already to inflict more pains by our own hands.
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