Paracetamol linked to blood cancer
May 15, 2011
TAKING Paracetamol regularly over a long period increases a person’s risk of developing blood cancer, a new study has shown.
By Taddeo Bwambale
TAKING Paracetamol regularly over a long period increases a person’s risk of developing blood cancer, a new study has shown.
The research conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in the US has discovered that high use of Paracetamol increases the risk of blood cancer by two-fold.
According to the study, a chemical in the drug, Acetaminophen, aids the development of blood cancer cells.
Paracetamol is the most widely prescribed drug locally for relieving pain and fever.
The common brands of Paracetamol sold locally include panadol, kamadol, renedol and cetamol.
The new study, published in the ‘Journal of Clinical Oncology’ online on May 9, tracked 64,839 men and women in the US aged between 50 to 76 years over a ten year period.
The participants had no clinical history of cancer, except melanoma (skin cancer).
Scientists also examined data on blood cancer from the surveillance, epidemiology and end results cancer registry.
According to the study, 577 people, who used the drug four days a week for a period of up to four years, developed blood cancers such as myeloid neoplasms, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and plasma cell disorders.
It, however, did not show an increase in chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.
The link between acetaminophen use and blood cancers was also found to be greater among women.
The study also showed that high use of aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had no link with the risk of blood cancer.
It also showed that neither aspirin nor non-aspirin NSAIDs are useful for prevention of blood cancer.
Most of the health experts in Uganda agreed with the findings, but said the drug may only be toxic if used incorrectly or over a long period.
Prof Celestine Obua, a pharmacologist at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences, said Paracetamol had the possibility of causing cancer if used in excess.
“We normally take drugs in form of a molecule which the liver tries to break down or modify. During the process, a toxic substance (metabolite) is formed as a by-product which may lead to poisoning of the liver. Such toxic effects may affect DNA formation. This may lead to cellular changes, thus cancer,†he said.
Obua, however, attributed this level of poisoning to careless use or consumption of substandard drugs.
He added that components used in making some of the fake drugs may contain toxic substances.
But Prof. Willy Anokbonggo, a clinical pharmacologist, said there was no known mechanism for Paracetamol to cause cancer.
“Paracetamol is one of those drugs that get degraded in the body. Besides, pain killers cannot be used for a very long time,†he said.
Anokbongo said despite its known side effects, Paracetamol is the only pain killer that does not affect the inner surface of the stomach that allows it to contain acid.
“The study needs to be repeated with a bigger number of people. There has to be a known mechanism for the drug to cause cancer,†he said.
Dr. Jackson Orem, the director of the Uganda Cancer Institute, said the findings focused on elderly patients and not the average user.
Dr. Musa Waisswa, a blood specialist at Mulago Hospital, said the findings did not provide conclusive evidence to show the causative relationship between Paracetamol and cancer.
An official from the National Drug Authority said they would examine the findings and compare them with other studies before making a proposal.
TAKING Paracetamol regularly over a long period increases a person’s risk of developing blood cancer, a new study has shown.
The research conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in the US has discovered that high use of Paracetamol increases the risk of blood cancer by two-fold.
According to the study, a chemical in the drug, Acetaminophen, aids the development of blood cancer cells.
Paracetamol is the most widely prescribed drug locally for relieving pain and fever.
The common brands of Paracetamol sold locally include panadol, kamadol, renedol and cetamol.
The new study, published in the ‘Journal of Clinical Oncology’ online on May 9, tracked 64,839 men and women in the US aged between 50 to 76 years over a ten year period.
The participants had no clinical history of cancer, except melanoma (skin cancer).
Scientists also examined data on blood cancer from the surveillance, epidemiology and end results cancer registry.
According to the study, 577 people, who used the drug four days a week for a period of up to four years, developed blood cancers such as myeloid neoplasms, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and plasma cell disorders.
It, however, did not show an increase in chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.
The link between acetaminophen use and blood cancers was also found to be greater among women.
The study also showed that high use of aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had no link with the risk of blood cancer.
It also showed that neither aspirin nor non-aspirin NSAIDs are useful for prevention of blood cancer.
Most of the health experts in Uganda agreed with the findings, but said the drug may only be toxic if used incorrectly or over a long period.
Prof Celestine Obua, a pharmacologist at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences, said Paracetamol had the possibility of causing cancer if used in excess.
“We normally take drugs in form of a molecule which the liver tries to break down or modify. During the process, a toxic substance (metabolite) is formed as a by-product which may lead to poisoning of the liver. Such toxic effects may affect DNA formation. This may lead to cellular changes, thus cancer,†he said.
Obua, however, attributed this level of poisoning to careless use or consumption of substandard drugs.
He added that components used in making some of the fake drugs may contain toxic substances.
But Prof. Willy Anokbonggo, a clinical pharmacologist, said there was no known mechanism for Paracetamol to cause cancer.
“Paracetamol is one of those drugs that get degraded in the body. Besides, pain killers cannot be used for a very long time,†he said.
Anokbongo said despite its known side effects, Paracetamol is the only pain killer that does not affect the inner surface of the stomach that allows it to contain acid.
“The study needs to be repeated with a bigger number of people. There has to be a known mechanism for the drug to cause cancer,†he said.
Dr. Jackson Orem, the director of the Uganda Cancer Institute, said the findings focused on elderly patients and not the average user.
Dr. Musa Waisswa, a blood specialist at Mulago Hospital, said the findings did not provide conclusive evidence to show the causative relationship between Paracetamol and cancer.
An official from the National Drug Authority said they would examine the findings and compare them with other studies before making a proposal.