Prednisone is not a mouse carcinogen.
The carcinogenic potential of prednisone, a synthetic corticosteroid used as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agent, was investigated by feeding it to Crl:CD-1(ICR) mice (50/sex/dose) at doses of 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/kg/day for 18 months. Prednisone did not significantly increase the incidence of neoplasms (p less than or equal to 0.05); on the contrary, it significantly decreased the incidence of hepatocellular tumors (p = 0.002 in males, p = 0.027 in females), male lacrimal/Harderian gland tumors (p = 0.05), female pulmonary adenomas (p = 0.047), female endothelial cell tumors (p = 0.035), and female lymphosarcomas (p = 0.02). This study suggests that long-term (lifetime) prednisone use does not increase cancer risk and may actually reduce it.
Dillberger
J E
JE
Toxicology Department-Indianapolis Center, Marion Merrell Dow Inc., Indiana 46268-0470.
Cronin
N S
NS
Carr
G J
GJ
D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000633:toxicity*
D002273:Carcinogens; D011241:Prednisone